Ecowas Defence Chiefs Call For International Support On Mali
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- Category: Latest
- Saturday, 28 July 2012
- By Admin
The Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS) of ECOWAS Member States has endorsed the report and outcome of the Technical Assessment Mission (TAM) to Mali and called for international support for the planned deployment of an ECOWAS Mission in Mali (MICEMA) to help restore the country’s national integrity and return
constitutional order.
The Committee also fixed 9th August 2012 for a final planning
conference in Mali in preparation for the deployment of the
3,000-strong MICEMA.
These were the key decisions of the CCDS’ two-day emergency meeting in
Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, which ended on 26th July 2012, after
considering the report and outcome of the TAM that visited Mali from
6-18 July 2012, assisted by the African Union and the United Nations.
The meeting was in compliance with the decision of the 41st Ordinary
Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, held
in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire in June 2012, which authorized the
Technical Mission to evaluate the political, security, humanitarian
and human rights situations in Mali, assess the needs of the Malian
Army with a view to assisting the country to secure its territorial
integrity and restore constitutional order.
The opening ceremony of the emergency meeting held at the Defence
Headquarters was presided over by Cote d’Ivoire’s Minister of Defence
in the Office of the Presidency, Mr. Paul Koffi Koffi, represented by
the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Alexis Ahonzo.
In her welcome address, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs,
Peace and Security, Mrs. Salamatu Suleiman had called on the Chiefs of
Defence Staff to redouble their efforts to ensure enduring peace and
security in the region.
Specifically, she urged them to work out details with timelines of the
planned deployment of troops in Mali, which the international
community will buy into, and which will meet the approval of the
United Nations Security Council.
The Chairman of the CCDS, General Soumaila Bakayoko of Cote d’Ivoire
expressed satisfaction with the quality of work and the
professionalism of the Technical Assessment Team, and assured that
modalities of the planned deployment would meet the approval of the UN
Security Council.
In their deliberations, the Chiefs of Defence Staff noted that the
gravity of the political, security and humanitarian situations in Mali
constituted a serious threat to peace not only in Mali but the entire
region.
The Committee noted that in order to carry the international community
along, the deployment of MICENA is contingent on a formal request by
the Malian Government and subsequent approval by the United Nations
Security Council.
The meeting was attended by Chiefs of Defence Staff, some Chiefs of
Police and Gendarmeries of Member States, Commissioner Suleiman and
the Special Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission
to Mali. Mr. Aboudou Cheaka Toure.
