The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia, Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., on Sunday, November 7, 2021 represented H.E Dr. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, at the Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Minister Kemayah said the stability of the region would continue to be wanting if the political situation in Guinea and Mali remain unresolved in a practicable time as possible.
Minister Kemayah said Liberia wishes to take due note and thank the Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, H.E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, and the President of Cote d’Ivoire, H.E. Alassane Ouattara, for their high-level mission to Guinea on September 17, 2021.
Earlier, the Liberian Foreign Minister also used the occasion to extend condolence messages to the Excellency Presidents and Governments and peoples of Niger, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, for the unfortunate tragic situations: “On behalf of His Excellency President Weah and the Government and people of Liberia, we reiterate our heartiest condolences to the Excellency Presidents and Governments and peoples of Niger, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone for the unfortunate tragic situations, respectively. We wish all the injured speedy recovery in the name of God the Almighty. May the souls of all the dead rest in perfect peace.
“Similarly, we thank the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, for leading an ECOWAS delegation to Guinea from October 28th to the 30th to assess the transitional process in Guinea.
“Liberia’s due recognition and thanks are also due the ECOWAS Mediator for Mali, H.E. Goodluck Jonathan, for his shuttle diplomacy, and his detailed report on the current political and security situation on Mali. His report clearly shows that, although the Transitional Authorities are making some progress through Rebuilding Conference and the revision of the voters’ rolls and electoral laws, Malian stakeholders, especially the political class, have formed no consensus on these matters,” Minister Kemayah intoned.
From Liberia’s experience on such matters, the Foreign Minister said this could be a recipe for future chaos and further deceleration in the transitional activities—if not addressed.
“The ECOWAS Authority should therefore ensure that the authorities in Mali adhere to the transitional process enunciated by the ECOWAS Authority, in consultation with Malian stakeholders.
“Liberia is also concerned about the exacerbating security situation in Mali caused by the reported decision of Malian authorities to hire Russian mercenaries. Liberia agrees with the Mediator for Mali that if this remains unchecked it could create negative ramifications for our region,” Liberia’s Foreign Minister Kemayah averred.
Minister Kemayah indicated that Liberia is saddened that terrorism and community-based violence are spreading from Northern Mali to other parts of the country, noting that these problems have already caused a good number of Malians to flee to neighboring states while others now live rough as internally displaced persons.
Liberia’s Chief Diplomat said this dire situation requires serious attention for resolution at the Summit, emphasizing that regarding the political situation in Mali, Liberia regrets that the transitional period agreed for Mali continues to be violated by unanticipated actions by Mali’s Transitional Administration, including its recent declaration of the ECOWAS Permanent Representative to Mali as Persona Non Grata.
“This unexpected policy could not have come at a worse time, when the Authority is concerned about the Malian Authority’s adherence to the timetable of the transition. It would therefore be in place for us to discuss this issue and related matters at this Summit, which have slowed the transition process to put the situation in Mali back on track.
“Liberia is pleased that the recent mission of the President of the ECOWAS Commission to Guinea confirmed that the transition process is on course with broad consultations of the government of Col. Mamady Doumbouya with Guinean stakeholders to set up a Transitional Government, a Transitional Assembly and other branches of government that would enable the restoration of constitutional rule in Guinea as soon as possible”, Minister Kemayah said.
He said Liberia is concerned that the period for the transitional activities is hitherto unspecified by the Guinean authorities as requested by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
At the same time, Minister Kemayah further indicated that Liberia would like to restate the position of the ECOWAS Authority for the urgent release of President Alpha Condé, and the restoration of constitutional and democratic orders in Guinea. We are thankful about the report that President Condé remains in good health but are concerned about his continued detention.
“You will recall that the suggestions of Liberia, during our earlier Summit on Guinea and Mali, included the examination of the root causes of military coups in our region.
“Liberia would like to reiterate that the Authority should prioritize this task by the continued utilization of its good offices to search for sustainable peace in our sub region.
“In this respect, Your Excellencies, Liberia wishes to reaffirm its call for the urgent review of the 2001 ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance to address the issues of constitutional term limits in Member States”, Minister Kemayah concluded.
Sunday’s extraordinary meeting, is the third on the same agenda in 2021, assessed previous resolutions and further reviewed the political situation in Guinea and Mali.
ECOWAS leaders in the communique issued at the end of the last special summit in Accra had, among other resolutions, decided to freeze the financial assets of members of the military junta.
The regional body also placed a travel ban on the junta in both countries, while also demanding that the junta returns Guinea to constitutional rule within six months.
Minister Kemayah was accompanied to the Summit by Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh, give Liberia’s Ambassador to Nigeria and Liberia Representative to ECOWAS; Mr. Alieu Massaquoi; Charge D’Affaires, Embassy of Liberia in Ghana; Mr. Anthony C. Kpalleh, ECOWAS Desk, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ben Roberts, ECOWAS Desk, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.