ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions should streamline their support for the return of democracy and constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau to pave way for the country’s economic development, a meeting by officials of the two institutions has recommended after their just-ended two-day meeting at the ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja.
The Abuja consultation on 13 and 14 August 2013, coordinated by the Multilateral Surveillance Directorate of the ECOWAS Commission, and which followed the recommendation last June in Ouagadougou, by the Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS) of the two Commissions, discussed
arrangements for a common support programme with greater efficiency in Guinea-Bissau.
To fast track the programme, the participants recommended that a technical committee be set up to produce a joint document by the end of October for submission to the JTS next meeting in November 2013. The document should outline activities of the joint programme and the roadmap for their implementation.
The five priority areas identified for the joint programme are peace and security; energy; public finance management; social infrastructure (education, health), and control of drug trafficking.
The Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government at their 42nd Ordinary Session in Yamoussoukro last February extended the political transition in Guinea Bissau to 31st December 2013, with presidential election scheduled for 24th November 2013.
Partners are expected to mobilize resources to bridge the financial gap of about US$7 million in the electoral budget, and prepare for the second phase of the transition after the presidential election in that country, following the 2012 military could in the country.
The Abuja meeting noted the significant improvement in security in the country due mainly to the operations of the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau (ECOMIB), and recommended that the two Commissions support the country in addressing its defence and security, as well as
socio-economic challenges.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the meeting, the acting Director of the ECOWAS Multilateral Surveillance directorate, Mr. Nelson Magbagbeola, thanked the participants for their rich contributions. He also commended the UEMOA delegation led by the Commission’s Director of Multilateral Surveillance Mr. Eloge Houessou, who in turn praised the spirit of cooperation between the two Commissions.
For his part, the Special Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Guinea Bissau, Ambassador Ansumane Ceesay, expressed his satisfaction with the process leading up to the joint intervention programme by both Commissions.
“Concerted efforts should be made to preserve peace and security to pave way for development activities in Guinea Bissau,” he said, adding that “there can be no development without peace and security.”.
