Africa (Commonwealth) _ Regarding the military takeover of power in Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, Mali, and Guinea, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) recently decided to lift the sanctions against them. This move was welcomed by the International Trade Union Confederation’s African Regional Organization (ITUC-Africa).
ITUC-Africa asked the member nations to reevaluate their threat to leave ECOWAS when the sanctions were lifted. The General Secretary of ITUC-Africa, Akhator Joel Odigie, demanded in an Abuja statement that diplomatic efforts and discussions be stepped up in order to solve the fundamental governance problems that led to the military takeover in the area.
However, our organization continues to be extremely worried about Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso potentially leaving ECOWAS, realizing the negative consequences that may ensue for regional cohesion, socioeconomic growth, and the general well-being of the populace.
ITUC-Africa wants to emphasize how important it is for the member nations in question to rethink their exit since it is vital for the continent’s integration, progress, prosperity, and global importance that ECOWAS and, by extension, Africa remain united. In order to break this deadlock, we support a constructive conversation within the 12-month timeframe specified in the ECOWAS treaty.
Crucially, we demand that ECOWAS immediately reevaluate its effectiveness, free itself from outside pressures, and give the wellbeing of West Africa and the people of Africa top priority. The organization must essentially adhere to its 2020 vision, which calls for a transition from the ECOWAS of States to the ECOWAS of the people.
As African laborers, we reaffirm that a democracy that is people-centered, people-driven, and people-minded ought to be “the only game in town.” To be effective, democracy must ensure the welfare and well-being of its constituents. Furthermore, we reiterate that robust institutions must be established and the integrity of the rule of law must be constantly and vigorously maintained if true and enabling democracy is to be realized.
We reaffirm our dedication to helping to realize these goals as organized laborers. African laborers will so vigorously pursue legal action against the Global Campaign for Democracy that on March 4, 2024, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) would be established. We will keep interacting with democracy to make sure it continues to benefit us, since we firmly believe in plural and participatory democracy.
As a result, ITUC-Africa calls for the acceleration of diplomatic efforts and talks to solve the fundamental governance problems that give rise to military takeovers in the area, following the relaxation of sanctions against these nations.
The ECOWAS should aggressively assist the impacted nations in reestablishing democratic values and the rule of law through diplomatic channels. In accordance with the criteria of the sub-regional authorities, this process should include legal processes and comprehensive talks with all important parties, including workers and their trade union organizations.
We implore ECOWAS to look for and implement bilateral and multilateral cooperation and support mechanisms in order to help and expedite recovery for workers, firms, economic sectors, and individuals who have been negatively impacted by the sanctions. In a same vein, we wish to implore ECOWAS to muster the bravery and political will to oppose constitutional manipulation and maneuvering, particularly by non-state actors, as this is one of the practices that erodes faith in national democratic programs and procedures.
To sum up, ITUC-Africa urges all parties involved to place a high priority on communication, diplomacy, unity, cooperation, collaboration, and solidarity in order to break through the current deadlock and continue to firmly support human rights, democracy, and ECOWAS regional integration.
Following the bloc’s conference in the Nigerian city of Abuja, Touray told reporters that the sanctions are being lifted “on purely humanitarian grounds” to lessen the suffering that has resulted from them. In addition to urging the three military-led countries that had left the bloc—Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso—to reverse their choice, the summit’s objectives included discussing existential concerns confronting the region.
Due to recent coups, the three were expelled from ECOWAS. They have now said that they want to leave the bloc permanently, but ECOWAS has demanded that the three states come back.
The ECOWAS chairman, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, made the following statement during the summit’s opening remarks: “We need to reassess our current approach to the pursuit of constitutional order in four of our Member States,” he said, referring to the three suspended nations as well as Guinea, which is likewise governed by the military.
Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso were advised by Tinubu to “reconsider the decision” and “not perceive our organization as the enemy.” In addition, the ECOWAS said that it has eased certain restrictions against Malian citizens and against Guinea, which is ruled by a junta and has not declared its intention to quit the union or given a timeframe for returning to democratic governance.
