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West African Leaders Meet in Abuja to Discuss Regional Crises

   Gilbert da Costa | Abuja 16 February 2010
   Nigeria's  Acting  President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja. The country's
   parliament  has  named  Jonathan  acting  leader while President Umaru
   Yar'Adua  remains  hospitalized  in  Saudi  Arabia (November 2009 file
   photo)

Photo: AFP

   Nigeria's  Acting  President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja (November 2009
   file photo)

   West  African  leaders  are meeting in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, to
   discuss  recent  crises  in  Niger, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Togo.  The
   one-day  summit  will also appoint a new chairman to replace Nigeria's
   ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua.
   Speaking  at  the opening session, Nigeria's acting President Goodluck
   Jonathan  regretted  the  suspension  of  Guinea  and  Niger  from the
   15-member  regional bloc and offered Nigeria's help in resolving their
   political crises.
   "Let me restate our firm commitment to assisting both Guinea and Niger
   in restoring constitutional order in their respective countries in the
   not-too-distant future," Mr. Jonathan said.
   Niger  and  Guinea  were suspended by ECOWAS for subverting democracy.
   Nigeria's acting president also warned about the growing trend of drug
   trafficking  in  the  region,  describing  it as a potentially massive
   problem that has to be dealt with now.
   "Still  on  the  political  front  is  the emerging concern within our
   sub-region  of  a  new  unholy  alliance  between drug trafficking and
   terrorism," Mr. Jonathan said.  "This we must all collectively rise to
   address at this incipient stage."
   The  session is expected to appoint a successor to Nigeria's President
   Umaru Yar'Adua, who has been receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia since
   November.
   ECOWAS Commission President Mohammed Ibn Chambas is also stepping down
   after nine years as head of the regional bloc.

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