- Calls for a holistic approach that ensures accountability, strengthens the rule of law in Africa
African Bar Association (AFBA) has commended the new Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Brig. (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio, for initiating moves to reconcile with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, and encouraging their return to the fold of ECOWAS.
AFBA in a commendation letter signed by its President and Life Bencher at Nigeria’s Body of Benchers, High Chief Ibrahim Eddy Mark remarked that: “A strong, united and inclusive ECOWAS remains indispensable for the peace, security and economic prosperity of West Africa and the African Continent at large.”
The full text of the letter addressed to Bio, who is also the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, reads:
On behalf of the African Bar Association (AFBA), we extend our warmest greetings and appreciation for your leadership as chairman of ECOWAS at this critical juncture in the history of our sub-region.
We commend your recent efforts and vision on assumption of office as chairman, ECOWAS, towards restoring unity with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, and encouraging their return to the fold of ECOWAS.
A strong, united and inclusive ECOWAS remains indispensable for the peace, security and economic prosperity of West Africa and the African Continent at large.
The African Bar Association fully supports their reintegration and believes that:
- Genuine reconciliation requires not only dialogue but also an honest interrogation of
- The root causes that led to their withdrawal.
These include issues of misgovernance, lack of rule of law, lack of access to justice, electoral manipulations, injustice and failure of democratic institutions to protect the rights and dignity of our people, just to mention but a few.
While AFBA remains firmly committed to constitutional governance, the promotion of democracy and opposition to unconstitutional changes of government, we equally submit that outright condemnation of coups, without addressing the systemic failures and conditions that precipitated them, is insufficient and amounts to pandering to ostrich behavior.
A holistic approach is required- one that ensures accountability, strengthens the rule of law, delivers real-time justice and guarantees good governance.
Your Excellency, we urge ECOWAS under your stewardship to embrace inclusivity, genuine reform, and people-centred governance, so that our citizens may once again see ECOWAS as their own community of peoples, not just a club of governments.
African Bar Association enjoins all member states to embrace dialogue, reform and cooperation in order to strengthen the legitimacy of ECOWAS and advance the aspirations of the people of West Africa.
The African Bar Association stands ready to provide expertise, facilitate dialogue and partner with ECO WAS in the noble task of restoring unity, peace and prosperity to our sub-region, whilst believing that a stronger and united ECOWAS can only be built on justice, inclusivity and good governance
Yours sincerely,
High Chief Ibrahim Eddy Mark
President
A good point — peace in West Africa won’t last if leaders only condemn coups without fixing the real problems that cause them.