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ECOWAS Leaders to Meet Friday Over Bissau Crisis

   Peter Clottey 16 September 2010

   Guinea-Bissau has been prone to coup dâétats and drug trafficking

   The  communications director of the Economic Community of West African
   States  (ECOWAS)  said  several  heads  of  state  and government have
   arrived  Nigeriaâs capital, Abuja to participate in a summit Friday on
   finding solutions to Guinea-Bissauâs security crisis.

   Sonny  Ugoh  said the extra-ordinary summit will not only focus on the
   political and security situation in Guinea-Bissau, but also review the
   progress  in  the  regional  blocâs  efforts  to  reform the countryâs
   defense and security.

   âThe meeting will look at how to ensure security sector reform because
   we  think  that  is  key to resolving the problem in Guinea-Bissau and
   ensuring political stability. It is important to emphasize that in the
   spirit  of  political  and  democracy  and  good governance, we have a
   responsibility,  which  we have been promoting regional-wise to ensure
   that  we  work  with member states to promote sustainable democracy in
   member states.â

   ECOWAS  Communications director Ugoh said security stability will pave
   the  way  for  the  administration  in  Guinea-Bissau to âintensivelyâ
   pursue economic development.

   West  African  leaders  have  expressed  concern  over  the escalating
   security crisis in Guinea-Bissau following last Aprilâs attempted coup
   dâétat.

   In  early April, the army briefly detained Prime Minister Carlos Gomes
   Jr. after removing the former military chief.

   Early  this month, Guinea-Bissau asked for Angolaâs help to reform its
   military  in  order  to  end rampant coup dâétats as well as stop the
   ongoing drug trafficking menace the country faces.

   This came after the European Union refused to extend a mission to help
   reform  the  West African countryâs security forces, saying Bissau has
   failed to respect the rule of law since the armyâs April mutiny.

   ECOWAS communications director Ugoh said regional leaders want to help
   stabilize  the  West  African country and restore the rule of law that
   will   make   Guinea-Bissau   attractive  enough  for  foreign  direct
   investment.

   âNobody is going to invest in an environment that is unstable. That is
   why  the main issue they will be dealing with as far as I know, is the
   security  situation. We are looking for about 70 million Euros to deal
   with  the  security  sector  reforms that will enable us to repair the
   barracks  and  retire  so many people who are aged and pay them off so
   that we can reform the security sector.â

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