NEWSLETTER

BOLD STRIDE BY ECOWAS AND PARTNERS TO STRENGTHEN PEACE AND SECURITY IN WEST AFRICA

ECOWAS and its development partners have taken another bold step towards the operationalization of the regional conflict prevention and peace-building strategy with the launch of the Plans of Action (PoA) for the 15 components of the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework(ECPF).The ECPF was adopted by ECOWAS leaders in 2008 to put in motion the regional Protocol relating to Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security (The Mechanism-1999). It was designed to serve as a guiding reference for ECOWAS and member states in their efforts to strengthen human security and has contributed to the regions achievements in the peace and security domain. But there have also been challenges related to programmatic coordination, consolidation of achievements and structured resource mobilization.

The ECOWAS Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security supported the ECPF Secretariat in the elaboration of the PoA, which also enjoys the support of the Danish Agency for International Development (DANIDA), and the European Union, under the EU Support for ECOWAS Regional Peace, Security and Stability Mandate (EU- ECOWAS PSS) Project.

Following a process started towards the end of 2017 by the ECOWAS Commission, two Consultants were recruited by the EU-ECOWAS PSS Project for the development of the ECPF Plans of Action, which were then examined and adopted as part of an inclusive process backed up by experts, civil society actors and representatives of ECOWAS member states.

“Our goal here today is not only to launch the ECPF Action Plans, but also to take responsibility for its success by playing an important role in mobilizing resources for their implementation," declared Gen. Francis Behanzin, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, during the launch of the PoA at a ceremony in Abuja in lanuary 2019. The event was attended by ECOWAS officials and representatives of development partners, including the Head of EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Ketil Karlsen, represented by Mr. Kurt Cornelis, Head of Development Cooperation), the Danish Ambassador to Nigeria Jesper Kamp, and the Charge d'Affaires ofthe Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria, Mrs Anne—Beatrice Bullinger.

"Conflict prevention can never be an individual initiative. You understand that we need you, your technical and financial support. We are already convinced that together we can ensure that the Commission has sufficient technical and financial resources to implement the action plans by 2020," the Commissioner told the development partners.

In a key note address, Ambassador Karlsen described the ECPF as an effective conflict prevention instrument, while Ambassador Kamp said the activities planned underthe ECPF PoA, would "provide a platform for youth and women.Only through the inclusion of these groups can we ensure that solutions are sustainable."

Apart from the EU, DANIDA, and the Swiss government, the ECOWAS ECPF is also supported by other partners including the German Agency for International Cooperation, GIZ.

The crucial stage of this initiative is funds mobilization for the implementation of the PoA, with the target of US$100 million for the 2018 - 2020 project cycle.

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, the current Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of state and government, recently dispatched his Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama on preventive diplomacy mission to Benin Republic ahead of that country's April28 parliamentary elections.

The Minister, who was accompanied by the ECOWAS Commission President, Jean Claude Kassi Brou, met with President Patrice Talon of Benin.
“Benin Republic has been undergoing political reforms aimed at strengthening democracy, the minister said, adding: “The reforms include the registration of political parties with a view to having parties with national spread based on a new legislation that stipulates conditions for registration.

The ECOWAS Chair's envoy observed that “out of the many parties that applied for registration, only a few have been successful,” noting that: "With barely a month to the parliamentary election scheduled for April 28, the opposition have complained about being deliberately shut out of the process by the government.”

According to an official statement from Nigerian Foreign Ministry, the Minister met with the President Talon behind closed door to deliver the message of the ECOWAS Chairman. It quoted Minister Onyeama as saying: “President Buhari remains concerned about the growth of democracy in the sub-region."

The message called for all politicians and political parties in Benin Republic to be given a level playing ground to participate in the democratic process.

Earlier, a high-level delegation of the ECOWAS Commission led by Vice President Mrs Finda Koroma, had also met with President Talon and other key political stakeholders ahead of the 28 April polls.

The pre-election mission, which included Gen. Francis Behanzin, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and Ambassador Mohamed Diakite. ECOWAS Permanent Representative to Burkina Faso, also held talks with the leadership of the Benin Constitutional Court, the independent Electoral Commission, CENA, the Ministers of Economy and Finance, and Justice, and two of the country's former Heads of State, Nicephore Soglo and Boni Yayi.

Gen. Behanzin explained that the March 3-6 visit, within the context of ECOWAS' support to member states holding elections under the supplementary protocol on democracy and good governance "is for the evaluation of the political situation" in the country.

Benin Republic, with an estimated population of 10 million people has an 83 seat unicameral Parliament elected under a party-list proportional representation system.

The mandate of the out-going parliament expires on 15th May this year and some opposition parties have raised issues arising from an electoral code introduced in July 2018 which saw the creation of an electoral threshold of 10% of the national vote to enter parliament.
The deposit required for a parliamentary list has also been increased under a reform aimed at reducing the number of political parties in the country, which numbered around 200 at a stage.

The ECOWAS Vice President reiterated the expectation of the Commission to see a peaceful and transparent electoral process that will result in the emergence of patriotic leaders.

President Talon was elected in 2016 for a five-year renewable mandate and the next presidential election is due in 2020.

The aim of the ECOWAS delegation, which also included Mr Francis Oke, Head of the Electoral Assistance Division, was to ensure a conducive atmosphere for peaceful polls with integrity towards the consolidation of democracy and good governance in the country and the ECOWAS region at large.

GHANA 2020  PRESIDENTIAL POLL: FORMER PRESIDENT MAHAMA TO FACE INCUMBENT PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO

Ghana's main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has endorsed former President John Dramini Mahama as its candidate for the country's December 2020 presidential election.

At the party's convention on 23rd February delegates gave him more than 95% of the votes to defeat six other contestants.

 The former president will face incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo of the ruling National Patriotic Party (NPP) for a third consecutive time at the presidential election in 2020.

Mahama had succeeded his deceased boss President John Attah Mills in 2012, and defeated Akufo-Addo in the presidential election later that year.

In a reverse of the presidential contest in 2016, Akufo-Addo unseated Mahama, who gallantly congratulated the elected President, thereby earning for himself, a reputation as a believer in the democratic principles. Mr Mahama has headed the ECOWAS and Commonwealth election observation missions to Liberia and Sierra Leone, respectively.

UNREST IN BURKINA FASO, A THREAT TO WEST

The deteriorating security situation in Burkina Faso could spread to the country's three southern neighbours of Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic, and threaten stability of the region, the ECOWAS Early warning System has reported.

The report quoted a US military chief, Maj Gen Marcus Hicks as having raised the alarm while addressing soldiers at a camp near the Burkinabe capital Ouagadougou, during Operation Flintlock, the US military‘s biggest annual exercise in Africa, which took place recently.

Gen. Hicks, head of the US Special Operations Command in Africa, warned that if militant groups linked with al-Qaida and Islamic State managed to establish a presence in those countries, they would have easier access to major West African ports, providing trafficking routes for weapons and drugs.

With repeated multiple attacks on public schools, police and gendarmes posts, among other targets, the Minister of Communication Rémis Dandiinou was quoted as saying the aim of the attackers "is to destroy the state administration."

The Burkinabe government has ruled out any negotiations with armed groups, even though the country has no international support, while in its northern neighbour Mali, foreign forces provide some measure security. These include thousands of UN peacekeepers and French soldiers, and the EU‘s 600-strong military training mission.

The G5 Sahel, a multinational African force set up to fight the spread of violence in the Sahel has been facing the challenge of raising funds for its operations.

ECOWAS COMMISSIONERADVOCATES REDUCTION OF ELECTION COSTS IN WEST AFRICA

The ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Gen, Francis Behanzin has called for reduction of the cost of elections to make democracy affordable, more participatory and inclusive. As a first step towards achieving this goal, he called for support for the setting up of a regional depot for electoral materials which would be accessible by election management bodies (EMBs) in the ECOWAS space.

Exchanging views with visiting members of the Peer Support and Learning Mission of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) in his Abuja office on 13th February, the Commissioner noted that the high cost of elections could impede the strengthening of democracy in the region.

To this end, he urged EMBs to redouble their efforts, adding that the regional depot for electoral materials being contemplated by ECOWAS, could facilitate the pooling of resources, eliminate duplication of costs and ultimately make elections less expensive.

Already, ECONEC, with the support of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWAI), has conducted and validated a study on the cost of elections in West Africa due for publication, with the findings expected to address the spiraling electoral expenses in the ECOWAS region. For instance, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation with some 84 million registered voters is spending about US$6.5 per voter, for the February/March 2019 general elections, which translates to a huge budget.

Commissioner Behanzin also cited the example of Sierra Leone, which held four elections at a stretch in March 2018 - presidential, parliamentary, and municipal, involving elections of mayors and paramount chiefs.

He said other ECOWAS Member States could study and draw beneficial lessons from such a system on the reduction of cost of elections.

Commissioner Behanzin briefed the ECONEC Mission led by the chair of Sierra Leone's Electoral Commission Mohamed N‘fah-Alie Conteh on ECOWAS‘ support to member states organising elections, including through the deployment of Long-term and Short-term observation missions.

He explained that with the support of partners such as the European Union and the German Agency for international cooperation, GIZ, the ECOWAS Commission was deploying 200 observers to Nigeria and 80 to Senegal for their elections in February and March this year,

In commending the pre-election Peace Accords signed by Nigerian political parties and presidential candidates, Gen. Behanzin encouraged EMBs in the region to put in place a similar mechanism to ensure peaceful and credible elections across the region.

In his response, Chief Electoral Commissioner Conteh, agreed on the need for the reduction of electoral expenses and peaceful conduct of polls in the region, adding that the Peer Support and Learning Mission to Nigeria, was the first by ECONEC as a way of deepening knowledge and experience of members on best electoral practices.

"Nigeria is a big country, and whatever happens here affects the rest of Africa and West Africa in particular," he said.