LOMÉ – (ECOWAS Secretariat Report) – The political and security situation in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will be the main focus of the 40th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the ministerial level, which opened on Saturday July 7, 2018 in Lomé, Togo.
The release from the Communications Division of ECOWAS recently noted that the meeting held behind closed doors was presided over by the Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and African Integration, Robert Dussey (Prof ), who is the Chair of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level. According to the release, he was joined by Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, President of the ECOWAS Commission, and Francis Awagbè Béhanzin, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.
On the successive deliberations, participants will discuss a wide range of issues, including political developments in some Member States, ECOWAS Missions in Guinea Bissau (ECOMIB) and The Gambia (ECOMIG), the establishment of Maritime Zones F and G as well as operationalisation of ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centres and transhumance.
The Mediation and Security Council made up of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Defence in the ECOWAS Member States is also expected to endorse the report of its meeting at the ambassadorial level. The report was presented to participants by the Togolese Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Léné Dimban, who is also Chairman of the Mediation and Security Council at the ambassadorial level.
The release further informed that MSC members will equally consider an item on ECOWAS National Early Warning Centres.
