Comrades,
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Latest updates of developments in West Africa, including latest on the EPAs. Thanks!
Emmanuel
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Many stakeholders active in the field of security and development in the Sahel deplored the lack of co-ordination of national strategies to combat terrorism. Efforts to institutionalise a regional framework for dialogue between the Sahelian nations concerned now appear to be taking root. At a meeting in Nouakchott on 16 February, the presidents of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger decided to create the G5-Sahel, “an institutional framework for co-ordination and monitoring regional co-operation”, which shall be chaired by the Mauritanian President and current AU Chairman Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. "There is no lasting development without security nor enduring security without effective development," Mauritanian President Abdel Aziz said at the meeting. "We have agreed to unite our efforts to tackle this double challenge of security and lasting development in the Sahel." The work of the new G5-Sahel will be co-ordinated by a permanent secretary in charge of elaborating a “priority investment programme and a portfolio of development projects giving high priority to security, the consolidation of democracy and people's participation in the development of less developed areas” within the five countries, indicates the final communiqué. The five presidents urged their development partners, in particular the Arab financial institutions, to support their actions to "sustainably anchor peace and prosperity in the region." Nevertheless, Algeria and Morocco, two major regional players are so far missing in this new Alliance.
Despite President Goodluck Jonathan’s surprise reshuffle at the army’s top executive management level on 16 January, the security situation in northern Nigeria continues to degenerate. Borno, a north-eastern state that is home to some 5 million people, has been under a state of emergency since 14 May 2013. The declaration of emergency followed a fight between Boko Haram and the Nigerian Army in the town of Baga, which killed some 200 people. Despite government efforts to stop the violence, last week more than 30 Christian villagers were killed in the town of Konduga, and 106 people were killed during the most recent attack in the town of Izghe on 15 February. According to Borno State Governor Ali Ndume, some 100 Islamist militants attacked Izghe for about five hours, without any intervention from the army. Many of the dead bodies are still lying on the streets. State officials plan to return to the state capital Maiduguri to deal with the fallout of the attack. In response to the most recent massacres, President Jonathan complained about the “unfair share of this negative news brought about by Boko Haram members who are killing people at will”. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but authorities suspect the Islamist militant group Boko Haram was behind the attacks.
Chaired by Moussa Mahamat Aggrey, Chadian Minister for agriculture and irrigation and CILSS Co-ordinating Minister, the CILSS ministers officially closed the 49th Ordinary Session held in Abidjan from 10-14 February. Food security, resilience–building, the development of pastoralism and irrigation were among the key topics. The ministers also discussed operational issues such as the strengthening of institutional linkages between CILSS and ECOWAS, the construction of the new INSAH headquarters in Bamako and financial contributions of CILSS member countries, the approval of the CILSS 2013 activity and budget report and nominations of key positions. The Nigerien Ibrahim Lumumba Idi Issa was nominated Deputy Secretary-General of CILSS for a renewable three-year mandate and Professor Antoine Some was confirmed as Director-General of the INSAH Institute. “2014 will be a pivotal year for the CILSS with the launch of its new five-year programme covering the period from 2015 to 2019”, highlighted Georges Serre, Ambassador of France to Côte d’Ivoire, representing the technical and financial partners of CILSS. Development partners affirmed their commitment to support CILSS in its mission to ensure food security for all. The 2015 Council of Ministers will be held in Bamako.
On 8 February, UEMOA, ECOWAS and the EU finally reached a compromise agreement for a “minimal” Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between West Africa (ECOWAS countries plus Mauritania) and the EU, after more than 10 years of lengthy negotiations. The deal is currently being discussed by the region’s trade and finance ministers in Dakar who are expected to approve the EPA and forward it to the various heads of state of ECOWAS for final signature, most likely at the next Africa-EU summit in April. However, some analysts believe that West African ministers might tend to request some amendments to the 16 billion euros for the EPA Development Programme (EPADP/PAPED). EPADP/PAPED aims to compensate financial losses of West African countries, enabling them cope with the cost of adjustment to the impending trade regime. It will also provide funding for infrastructure development, particularly in the field of energy. On the other hand, the EU has almost obtained its original position of an 80% market opening over 15 years. According to an article published by the Bridges Africa magazine, the two sides have agreed that West African countries will liberalise 75% of trade over a 20-year transition period. Moreover, European export products will no longer be subsidised in order to avoid unfair competition. EU countries accepted to open their markets to goods from the sub-region meeting the quality standards required by European legislation.
For the first time, a female journalist from Liberia, Wade Williams, has received the German Development Media Award 2013 in Berlin. Her report "Still a Hard Life” focuses on the struggle of teenager Mercy Womeh who breaks rocks to earn money for her school fees. Living conditions have little improved in Liberia despite impressive growth rates of up to 9% during the past decade. Yet about 85% of the population is unemployed with a CPI inflation rate of 5.5%. Liberia was qualified as the “World’s second most miserable place in the world”, just before Zimbabwe, with a score of 90.5% on the 2013 CPI Misery Index compiled by Business Insider. “It was the level of poverty in Liberia that prompted me to research women's issues. The resilience I saw in these women surprised me - the fact that they didn't wait for the government to provide for them, but took matters into their own hands and found ways to generate income for themselves”, says Williams. As regards freedom of speech, Williams confirms that journalists enjoy a “relatively favourable working environment…. There is much mistrust between the government and the media about freedom issues, but overall, you can report critically without being immediately killed.” Williams manages the newsroom at FrontPage Africa, a newspaper and website based in Monrovia.
Reconfirmed on 3 February as head of government, Mauritanian Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf presented on 12 February the composition of his new cabinet. While all key ministers (defence, interior, foreign, finance and justice portfolios) kept their post, eight ministers lost their positions and eleven new appointments were made. Almost a quarter of the cabinet posts, six out of 26 ministries, are assumed by women. During the last parliamentary elections in November/December 2013, the ruling Union for the Republic (UPR) and its allies won 76 of the 147 seats. Analysts said Prime Minister Laghdaf's reappointment as head of government is seen as “a well-earned reward for a winning team which shouldn't be replaced.” The general public does not seem to expect any major policy changes from the new government, which will focus its energy on preparing the 2014 presidential campaign. The presidential election is scheduled for July, and President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz plans to present himself for re-election.
A 10-member expert delegation composed of Chinese construction experts and economists was charged with identifying opportunities on how China can support the region’s infrastructure development. During a courtesy meeting between Zhou Shanginq, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy based in Abuja, and ECOWAS Commission President Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo on 11 February in Abuja, Ouédraogo said that “the construction of regional highways remained the priority of the Community as it would help the realisation of the giant strides attained by the Community through the Common External Tariff agreed by regional leaders last year as well as the trade liberalisation programme and its flagship protocol on the free movement of persons, residence and establishment.” The construction of the Lagos-Abidjan highway is one of ECOWAS’ top priority infrastructure projects. The five West African countries involved have already pledged some USD 50 million to kick-start the project. The outcomes of the Chinese consultation mission will “guide both parties in deciding on the next steps in this process”, states the ECOWAS Communiqué.
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