Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Akufo-Addo, has commended the Africa Union (AU) for its suspension of Burkina Faso from participating in the activities of the Union.
According to him, the “solidarity and international coalition” exhibited by the AU is much needed to halt the political turbulence in the region and the continent at large.
Speaking at a meeting with the Heads of States in Accra today, Thursday, February 3, 2022, over the military takeover in Burkina Faso, President Akufo-Addo noted that the resurgence of coup d’états in the region is a matter of grave concern because it challenges the democratic way of lives.
“I commend our continental body, the African Union, on its firm decision to suspend Burkina Faso from participating in AU organs and institutions. In alignment with the decision of ECOWAS authorities and the situation in Mali and Burkina Faso, the Africa Union expressed strong support to the efforts of ECOWAS in addressing peace and security challenges facing the region, including the resurgence of military rule”.
President Akufo-Addo
Addressing the members of ECOWAS, President Akufo-Addo indicated that their presence at the meeting is a strong indication of their willingness to find a “sustainable solution” to the resurgence of the “cancer” in the region. He called on the ECOWAS members to help address the dangerous trend “collectively and decisively” before it devastates the whole region.
“The resurgence of coup d’états in our region is a matter of grave concern. This revolution challenges the democratic way of lives we have chosen. We need to stand firm to protect democracy and freedom in our region”.
President Akufo-Addo
ECOWAS determined to resolve Burkina Faso coup
President Akufo-Addo iterated ECOWAS’ virtual summit held on the 28th of January 2022, and its suspension of Burkina Faso from participating in ECOWAS institutions and requested immediately the release of President President Roch Marc Kabore who was detained alongside other political actors. He explained that during the summit, members reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the principle of “zero tolerance for ascending to power” through unconstitutional means and therefore demanded an immediate restoration of constitutional order by the military.
“To assess more accurately the security and political situations in Burkina Faso, we agreed to dispatch two missions, respectfully, the committee of ECOWAS Chief of Defence Staff, led by the Ghanaian chief of defence staff on Saturday 30th January, 2022 and a joint ministerial delegation… including the President of the Commission and the UN Secretary General representative for the Sahel and West Africa on Monday, 31st January, 2022. The reports have been submitted for our consideration”.
President Akufo-Addo
In its bid to entrench its position in the ensuing coup in Burkina Faso, the African Union suspended Burkina Faso a week after a faction of the army announced the removal of President Roch Kabore, as envoys from West Africa and the United Nations head for talks with the coup leaders.
The AU’s 15-member Peace and Security Council intimated that it had voted to suspend Burkina Faso’s participation “in all AU activities until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country”.
Prior to that, Chairman of the Africa Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, had already condemned the coup shortly after it happened on January 23.
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