ECOWAS leaders have called on the international community to support the sanctions imposed on Guinea and Mali to promote peace, security, and stability in the region.

The West African leaders made the call in their communiqué at the end of the 60th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, held in Abuja on Sunday.

The authority also reaffirmed its commitment to promoting peace, security, and democracy in the region as a prerequisite for the economic integration and development of the region.

It reiterated strong concerns over the transition processes in Guinea and Mali, noting the absence of clear indicators leading to the restoration of constitutional order in conformity with the authority’s decision.

It, however, welcomed the recent decision of the transition authorities in Guinea to allow former President Alfa Conte to return home.

On Mali, the authority noted the official communication of December 9 from Malian authorities that the timetable for the election would be transmitted on January 31, 2022.

On the security situation in the sub-region, the authority expressed concern over the deterioration of the security situation in the Sahel, saying it was characterised by the recurrence of terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria and the expansion of the attacks in the coastal countries.

It, therefore, reaffirmed its determination to combat terrorism relentlessly.

“To that effect, the authority welcomes the recent conduct by some member states of joint operations along borders of front line countries and directed the commission to provide support for the planning and conduct of such operations within the framework of the implementation of the 2020-2024 Plan of action to eradicate terrorism in the region,” said the ECOWAS statement.

On creating a monetary union, the authority noted the status of macroeconomic convergence within the ECOWAS in the first half of 2021.

The authority also welcomed the reopening of land borders in ECOWAS for the Free Movement of Persons.

The summit also welcomed the ECOWAS Regional public-private partnership, which would provide the platform to raise alternative and innovative financing for regional projects.

It also noted a harmonised Regional Road Safety Policy, an action plan, a monitoring and evaluation framework and a Regional Road Safety Charter to guide the coordinated and harmonised safety improvement in the ECOWAS region.

The summit adopted the ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the participatory process that presided over the development of the vision.

The vision aims at creating “a community of people fully integrated in a peaceful, prosperous region with strong institutions that respect fundamental freedoms and work for inclusive and sustainable development’.”

(NAN)