FJC: Ecowas To Reject Future Coups
By Malick Mboob – Daily Observer
Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay, deputy speaker of the Ecowas Parliament, has said 
that the Ecowas authority of heads of state and government has categorically 
expressed its desire not to accept any forceful takeover of power in any member 
state.
"Consequently, we are happy to announce that for us in West Africa, the era 
of coups are over. The prospects for peace are however very high in West 
Africa. Despite its long history of political instability, the sub-region has today 
embraced democracy in its entirety. All the 15 member states of Ecowas are 
fully democratised. The Ecowas authority of heads of state and government has 
adopted a resolution expressing its unwillingness to accept any forceful take 
over of power in any member state," she said.
Mrs Jahumpa-Ceesay made this disclosure while addressing the 110th assembly 
of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Mexico City where she headed a 
five-member delegation of the Ecowas Parliament. The IPU is the international 
organisation of parliaments with a membership of 143 countries.
On the proliferation of arms in West Africa, she said the existence of arms 
and ammunition in the hands of individuals posed an enormous threat to peace in 
the entire sub-region. "The Parliament is quite concerned about it and plans 
to take appropriate steps to address the problem," she said.
Mrs Jahumpa-Ceesay also said that as a result of constant conflicts, children 
were conscripted into the fighting forces of rebel groups, thereby forcing 
them to abandon normal lifestyles and become soldiers at a tender age. She noted 
that such children remained a great threat to peace unless they were 
adequately rehabilitated.
"The major focus of Ecowas is the much-needed reconstruction of our countries 
and their dilapidated infrastructure. We are also concerned about the need to 
strengthen democracy, establish good governance and strict adherence to the 
Rule of Law. The establishment of the Parliament should be viewed from that 
angle. The integration process has been fully democratised with the activities of 
the Parliament," she stressed.
However, she said the Ecowas Parliament had no legislative powers, noting 
that it was as of now an advisory body to the authority of heads of state of 
Ecowas.
Mrs Jahumpa-Ceesay noted that this has limited its efforts at promoting 
international peace even within the sub-region. "It can only pass resolutions but 
has no capacity to sanction any failure or refusal to implement or respect such 
resolutions. We are however hopeful that the transition is expected to come 
to an end in November 2005. Already, the heads of state have directed for 
consultations to begin on the enhancement of the powers of parliament after the 
transition period," she noted.
She revealed that within the West African sub-region, Ecowas has contributed 
a lot in maintaining and promoting reconciliation, as exemplified in the truce 
reached in the civil wars, ethnic and political conflicts that were found in 
the area, in particular, the intractable Liberian war.
She finally requested that the Ecowas Parliament be upgraded from its current 
observer status at the Inter-Parliamentary Union to an associate member.
Ecowas was formed in 1975 as a free trade area, comprising the then 16 
countries, but later became 15 following the withdrawal of Mauritania.


"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are 
evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
 - Albert Einstein 
"
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change 
the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead 

"When the government fears the people, you have liberty. When the people fear 
the government, you have tyranny." 
- Thomas Jefferson

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" 
- Edmund Burke

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