A meeting of West African leaders meant to discuss the resurgence of military coups is underway in the Ghanaian capital, Accra.
The emergency summit of the heads of state and government of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) was summoned following the fourth coup in the region in just over two years in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.
It also comes after a failed coup in Guinea Bissau earlier this week.
Currently three countries in the 15-member bloc are under military rule – Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.
The one-day meeting in the Ghanian capital, Accra, according to the ECOWAS Commission, is meant to assess the outcome of two missions to Burkina following the coup there on January 24.
The bloc suspended Burkina Faso immediately after the military ousted President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who is still in detention.
Among the leaders attending are President Julius Maada Bio, Alssane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire and Adama Barrow of Gmabia.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo represents Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari.
The heads of state, under the chairmanship of Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo, are expected to decide on whether to impose sanctions on the country or to give the junta more time to return the country to civilian rule.
Thursday’s meeting followed two missions from the Commission, first a group of Military chiefs from member countries and then foreign ministers. The two teams were expected to assess the security and political situations, respectively, and update the heads of state to inform appropriate decision.
Among the factors to determine the summit’s decision is the fate of the deposed president, who freedom has been a top demand of the regional leaders.
The Burkinabe junta leader Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba has since been declared president, and he has promised to return the country to civilian rule within a “reasonable” period of time.
