President Akufo-Addo in his capacity as chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has hosted his colleague heads of state in a closed-door meeting to take stock of the political situation in what he termed the three “recalcitrant states” – Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.
In his opening remarks at the 5th extraordinary summit of the Authority of ECOWAS heads of state and government on the political situation in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso, in Accra on 25 March 2022, President Akufo-Addo said he and his colleagues will waste no time but move straight into strict in-camera discussions.
“I want to welcome your Excellences back to Accra again to take stock of where we are with our three recalcitrant member states – Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso- and take appropriate decisions on the way forward. Thank you for the short notice to respond to the invitation to this meeting, it’s a clear indication to your determination to assume your responsibilities to the security of ECOWAS,” he said.
In the last 19 months, there have been four coups in the ECOWAS sub-region alone. On 18 August 2020, the first military takeover occurred in Mali where the second also occurred on the 24th of May 2021.
The third unconstitutional takeover of power took place on 5 September 2021, in Guinea and the third unconstitutional power seizure took place on 24 January 2022, in Burkina Faso.
ECOWAS heads of state have in each of the coup d’états, instituted sanctions against the military leaders in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso. They have also demanded that the military junta in the two countries take immediate steps to restore democratic rule in the affected nations.
The three affected countries have in separate proposals, presented road maps to transition their respective nations back to constitutional rule.
ECOWAS leaders have rejected the transition plans of the three countries which range from 2 to 5 years. They have instead, demanded that the three countries take immediate steps to return their states to constitutional rule.
Wilberforce Asare
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