ECOWAS MEETINGS IN ACCRA: NIGER NEW ECOWAS CHAIR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 000151

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EAGR EAID ECON GH PGOV PREL ECOWAS
SUBJECT: ECOWAS MEETINGS IN ACCRA: NIGER NEW ECOWAS CHAIR



1. Summary: A round of ECOWAS statutory meetings in Accra
January 10-19 culminated in the 28th Summit of ECOWAS Heads
of State and Government. ECOWAS heads of state unanimously
selected President Mamdou Tadja of Niger as the new ECOWAS
Chairman. There was candid discussion of regional conflicts
and of the need to give women greater prominence in all
areas. The Council of Ministers adopted an ECOWAS Common
Agriculture Policy. USAID/WARP funded many of the programs
highlighted in the ECOWAS meetings. End summary.


2. On January 19, the heads of state of the 15 ECOWAS
countries met in Accra to select a new Chairman and review
progress on a range of issues. The summit was preceded by
meetings of the Technical Committee (WAMA),Committee of
Governors, Convergence Council, Council of Ministers, and
Ministers of Foreign Affairs. Prior to the ECOWAS meeting,
some 100 civil society representatives from the ECOWAS region
met in Accra to prepare advocacy positions for the summit.

Speakers at the events highlighted several themes:

Kudos to Ghana
--------------


3. Ghana and President Kufuor received praise for its
positive leadership in West Africa as two-time chair of
ECOWAS. Ghana was also praised for holding free and fair
elections in December, 2004, while Kufuor was commended for
his work in helping resolve conflicts in Liberia, Guinea
Bissau and Cote d'Ivoire.

ECOWAS Achievements
--------------


4. At the Heads of State Summit opening, ECOWAS Executive
Secretary Mohamed Ibn Chambas highlighted ECOWAS'

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achievements over the years: progress toward abolishing visa
requirements within ECOWAS, a Customs Union by 2008, and a
single currency; launching of the West Africa Gas Pipeline
and the West Africa Power Pool in 2004, movement toward a
common IT backbone and contributions to regional
peacekeeping. Chambas noted that West Africa had embraced
the NEPAD framework and welcomed the UN's role in regional
peacekeeping. However, ECOWAS members need to do more to
incorporate a regional strategy into national policy
frameworks, he added. Ghanaian President Kufuor also noted
the region's commitment to the Millennium Challenge goals,
"people-centered" policies, gender equality, and youth
development. Ghanaian Foreign Minister Akufo Addo noted
progress in 2004 in resolving conflict in Senegal, Liberia,
Guinea Bissau, as well as the success of elections in Niger
and Ghana.

More Action Needed to Reduce Conflict
--------------


5. The need for more action to reduce conflict was a
prominent theme. A message read from UN Secretary General
Kofi Annan noted the reduced intensity of conflict in the
region and improvements in the ability of ECOWAS to manage
conflict. However, the Cote d'Ivoire situation is "very
tense", with some actors unwilling to act toward peace. The
situations in Liberia and Guinea Bissau require sustained
attention, while Sierra Leone needs to improve on progress
toward peace, he said. He encouraged countries to reform
their security services, fight corruption and impunity, and
cooperate with civil society. He noted the region's main
challenges: locusts, youth unemployment, urbanization, HIV
and lawlessness.


6. Chambas praised progress in DDRR in Liberia and said
ECOWAS would remain engaged in the country. On Cote d'Ivoire
he praised the work of South African President Mbeki and
hoped for renewed peace efforts. ECOWAS is opening an office
in Guinea Bissau, with help from the EU and the Netherlands.
Chambas stressed the priority of ECOWAS work related to
conflicts, including creation of a Standby force, an Early
Warning System, and support to elections in Niger, Guinea
Bissau and Ghana.


7. Kufuor pointed to ECOWAS' successes in reducing conflict
but said the "continuing intransigence" of some undermines
security and progress in the entire region, urging such
leaders to "search their hearts". Ghana's Foreign Minister
said there could be no military solution to the Ivorian
crisis. The summit's final document called for continued
international support for Liberia, reaffirmed confidence in
the Linas-Marcousis and Accra II accords regarding Cote
d'Ivoire (and expressed support for UN and AU mediation
efforts),and pointed to the need for security sector reform
and credible elections in Guinea Bissau. In his acceptance
speech as new ECOWAS Chair, Nigerien President Tadja pledged
to continue with peace initiatives and urged factions in Cote
d'Ivoire to work for peace.

The Economic Agenda
--------------


8. ECOWAS leaders adopted an ECOWAS Common Agriculture
Policy covering agriculture, livestock, fisheries, forestry,
and natural resource management. The goal of the policy is
reportedly to boost sustainable regional food security,
rational management of natural resources, and decent
remuneration for agricultural operations and expansion of
agricultural trade on a regional and global basis. The
leaders also adopted a revised Master Plan for the
development of electricity generation and transmission (with
a regional electricity regulatory regime). They also agreed
to accelerate the liberalization of regional aviation,
including the creation of an air transport unit within
ECOWAS. The also discussed West African telecommunication
issues.


9. President Kufuor noted the need for a "more practical
date" beyond July, 2005 for currency convergence. West
Africa needs to pursue a common position in WTO meetings and
reach common agreements with the European Union, he stated.
He stressed the importance of infrastructure (such as a
Nouakchott to Lagos highway) and of the private sector.

More Prominence to Women
--------------


10. Women leaders were given prominence at the opening
ceremony of the Heads of State Summit. A group of regional
women leaders addressed the plenary. They noted ECOWAS'
support for women and urged ECOWAS to integrate women more
into peacekeeping efforts. As one speaker noted, women have
not been involved in ECOWAS conflict resolution because there
are no female heads of state in West Africa, although she
acknowledged the female Vice President of Gambia. Speakers
highlighted as priorities for women in the region: poverty
reduction, equal rights, peace and security, and women's
health. Nigerian President Obasanjo, speaking as AU
Chairman, also took note of the importance of women in Africa.

Thanks to Partners
--------------


11. Speakers thanked the UN, African Union, and
international donors. President Kufuor stressed support from
the U.S., UK, France, and the EU. He hoped development
partners do not get fatigued by the region's conflicts.

Comment
--------------


12. Despite some disorganization and delays, the
back-to-back ECOWAS meetings went well. There was
significant lobbying and debate about the choice of the new
Chairman. Speakers were candid about the difficulties in
resolving regional conflicts and the drag these conflicts
have on economic progress. Kufuor's remark about
"intransigent" leaders in Cote d'Ivoire was pointed (as he
made this comment, television cameras panned in on a passive
Laurent Gbagbo). The acknowledgment of civil society and
women was a positive development. Observers expressed some
frustration at the slow pace of currency conversion and some
of the other economic goals. Nonetheless, this week's
meetings underscored the progress ECOWAS has made as an
organization. As one advisor to ECOWAS put it to us, "a year
ago, ECOWAS could never have pulled off this kind of
meeting." With the exception of the trans-national road, the
economic achievements cited by the key speakers at the ECOWAS
meeting, including the Common Agricultural Policy, were
projects that were jointly initiated by USAID and ECOWAS that
have subsequently garnered support from other donors and the
private sector.


YATES