West African leaders on Friday issued an ultimatum to the military junta in Guinea over the protracted delay in the transition process and demanded that they provide a clear timetable by end of April or face sanctions.
The heads of state and government of the Economic Community of West States (ECOWAS) met in an extraordinary summit in the Ghanaian capital, Accra to discuss the political situation in the region, with particular focus on Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso, which are under military rule.
Guinea plunged into it’s crisis on September 5 last year, when a group of special forces soldiers headed by Col. Mamady Doumbouya seized power in a coup that ended former President Alpha Conde’s eleven-year rule.
ECOWAS condemned the coup and ordered the junta to transition the country back to civilian rule.
The heads of state of the sub regional grouping, in a communique issued at the end of Friday’s summit, expressed “serious concern over the lack of visibility on the transition” process, lamenting the junta’s display of disrespect for their six-month deadline for the conduct of elections.
The end of March will mark seven months since the coup.
“The transition timetable is still not available, priorities have not been set and little progress has been made in the transition process. Similarly, the socio-political situation is deteriorating due to insufficient dialogue between the government and political stakeholders and civil society actors,” the heads of state said in the communique.
“The Authority Demands the finalisation of an acceptable transition timetable no later than 25th April 2022. After this deadline, economic and financial sanctions will be immediately applied,” it adds.
The West African leaders also urged the junta to promote inclusiveness and dialogue with the political and civilian stakeholders in the handling of the transition in order to reduce tensions in the country and ensure a peaceful transition.
According to the communique, 12 heads of state attended the summit which was chaired by the host president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Among the other leaders are the presidents of Sierra Leone and Liberia, Julius Maada Bio and George Weah respectively. Also in attendance was President Macky Wall of Senegal and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the ECOWAS enjoy to Mali, presented a report on the situation of the transition there.
The summit took place at the backdrop of growing frustration among political parties and civil society in Guinea, who accused the junta of refusing to engage them for a solution to the political situation.
Earlier this month some 58 political parties threatened to resume mass protests if the junta doesn’t engage them, among a series of other demands that include publication of the membership of the NRCD junta.
The West African leaders also suggested the appointment of a Special Enjoy to facilitate dialogue between all stakeholders.
The Summit also called on the junta to act in accordance with the country’s laws in ongoing efforts to recover alleged stolen government assets from former officials.
The ECOWAS leaders also resolved to appoint a facilitator to help in promoting dialogue among the major stakeholders in the country.
