ECOWAS Authority Of Heads Of State Extraordinary Session On Political Situation In Guinea

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STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, GCFR, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA AT THE EXTRA-ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ECOWAS AUTHORITY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF GUINEA ON THE 16TH SEPTEMBER 2021

PROTOCOLS

May I begin by commending His Excellency, President Nana Akufo-Addo, the Chair of the Ecowas Authority of Heads of State and Government, for the prompt and proactive actions taken on the political situation in Guinea by convening the virtual Summit of the 8th of September and for hosting this 2nd Extraordinary Summit of the Ecowas Authority of Heads of State.

Let me also appreciate Your Excellency for the excellent hospitality my delegation and I have enjoyed since our arrival this morning.

I also commend the high-level mission to Conakry and the Chair of the Council of Ministers for their able leadership of the mission. It is exactly a year today since we met here in Accra to deliberate on the unconstitutional seizure of power in Mali. Since then, there have been at least three other coups and attempts.  ECOWAS must not only find a lasting solution to the development in Guinea but also take steps to prevent the recurrence of coups d’états in the region.

First, although the leadership of the military junta in Guinea has started consultation with critical stakeholders towards transitioning the country to civil administration, let me once again reiterate Nigeria’s condemnation of the military intervention and unconstitutional change of government in the country and call on the junta to transparently restore constitutional order without delay. Such a process should be led by a civilian.

We must also insist on the further call on them to immediately and unconditionally release President Alpha Condé while also respecting his physical integrity.

Excellencies, I think it is also important that ECOWAS should not offer the junta a year-long transition. We should simply insist that there should be an immediate return to civil rule. It may then be up to the junta to request a duration, which they may then accept or deny. An offer of a duration by ECOWAS may become an implicit offer to any coupist that they will be allowed at least one year in office.

Also, we must make sure that sanctions by ECOWAS achieve the intended objectives. In this connection, I think we should engage all well-meaning stakeholders, including the African Union, European Union, United Nations, developmental partners, and financial institutions, to join in taking more stringent measures by imposing travel bans and freezing of offshore financial assets of the coupists and their collaborators to ensure that they return the country to democracy immediately.

While we condemn the development in Guinea and affirm that no matter how popular the grievance against an elected leadership may be, the forceful seizure of power is an unacceptable assault on the dignity of a free people and their right to freely elect their leaders, we nevertheless must strongly urge all ECOWAS Member States to respect the principles of democracy and the constitutions of our respective countries.

On the update of the situation in Mali, let me commend former President Jonathan for his continued commitment and engagement with the various stakeholders in Mali. At the 59th Ordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Accra, Ghana, the authority was assured that the Malian transition committee will respect the electoral timetable, which includes the organization of a Presidential election by February 2022.

Let me reiterate the imperative for the Malian Transition government to strictly respect the electoral timetable unveiled on April 15th, 2021. And I further call for the continued support and collaboration of all major players in the country’s march towards a successful transition.

Excellencies, in concluding, let me reassure you that Nigeria will continue to closely monitor the affairs in Guinea and work with the ECOWAS Commission, the African Union, and other organizations, as well as stakeholders, to facilitate the timely return of Guinea to civil governance and stability.

I thank you for your attention.