The ECOWAS initiative to invite the governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to the official opening of the organization’s golden jubilee in Accra has been praised by the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS).
The Network stated in a press release on Tuesday that it backs ECOWAS’s initiative to reduce tensions and promote diplomacy in an effort to preserve the peoples’ shared history, heritage, and long-standing sociocultural ties.
The statement read: “As ECOWAS opens its doors and extends an arm of friendship and collaboration to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the Network encourages the three countries to reciprocate the gesture, upholding the spirit of good neighbourliness and cross-border cooperation. Such
cooperation is necessary now more than ever, especially as we require a concerted effort to confront matters of common interest to the subregion, such as security and trade.
“WADEMOS maintains the position that the restoration of trust and confidence between
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, on the one hand, and ECOWAS, on the other hand,
remains critical to sustaining cooperation and enhancing the free movement of goods and people. Building trust and confidence, we believe, is also critical to effectively combat the growing threat of terrorism across the subregion.
“Considering the close ties that exist among the West African peoples, WADEMOS
continues to urge the three Sahelian countries to be reconciliatory in their engagements with ECOWAS.”
A network of diverse national and international civil society organizations and civic groups, WADEMOS is independent and nonpartisan, and it works to defend and advance inclusive development, democracy, and good governance throughout West Africa.
To further its goal, it organizes, coordinates, and makes use of the combined voice and strength of civil society as well as other pro-democracy actors, opportunities, and resources in the West African region. WADEMOS currently has 47 members who are dispersed throughout West Africa.
The WADEMOS Secretariat is based in Accra, Ghana.
