The two-day 43rd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government opening in Abuja on Wednesday 17th July 2013, will discuss among others, the political and security situations in Mali and Guinea Bissau, which are preparing for crucial post-crisis elections.
Presidential polls have been fixed for 28 July and 24 November 2013, respectively in Mali and Guinea Bissau, following military coups in both countries last year and the armed insurrection in northern Mali.
ECOWAS, working with the international community mobilized resources and troops for the African-led International Support Mission (AFISMA), which transformed into a UN mission, MINUSMA on 1st July to help stabilize the situation. France had also intervened in January to halt the advance of the rebels from the north of Mali and contribute to the restoration of the country’s territorial integrity.
In the case of Guinea Bissau, the ECOWAS Mission, ECOMIB, has since replaced the Portuguese military contingent in that country, where political transition is moving in tandem with a Defence and Security Sector Reform Programme also supported by ECOWAS.
The Abuja Summit will consider a Memorandum on Mali to be presented by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo and be briefed by the ECOWAS Mediator on Mali, President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso and his co-mediator, President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria.
The regional leaders will also listen to separate presentations by the Commission’s president and the Chairman of the regional Contact Group on the situation in Guinea Bissau.
Other items on the mid-year summit agenda include consideration of the memorandum on the expansion of the membership of the Commission from seven to 15 and the allocation of statutory positions to Member States. The session will also consider the Interim Report of the President of the Commission, Report of the 70th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and the Report of the 30th Meeting of the Mediation and Security Council held on Tuesday 15th July in Abuja.
The Authority holds two ordinary meetings annually to consider various issues affecting the 15-nation Organization set up in May 1975, now with a combined population of more than 300 million people, to facilitate regional integration and promote socio-economic development.