LAGOS, March 11 --The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has decided to deploy a multi-disciplinary group to monitor and coordinate the security sector reform currently going on in Guinea-Bissau, according to the Guardian newspaper Wednesday. This was one of the recommendations made after a three-day meeting of the Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff of ECOWAS members, which held in Praia, Cape Verde. The recommendation followed briefings received by members of the committee on the security situations in Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, among others. The ECOWAS commission said in Abuja that the planned deployment in Guinea-Bissau is crucial in restoring confidence to the country following the killing of the Chief of Defense Staff of the Armed Forces, Tagme na Waie and President Jo'o Bernardo Nino Vieira, earlier this month. The defense chiefs in addition called for a review of the 1999 ECOWAS Protocol relating to the mechanism on conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacekeeping and security to address flash-points that could develop into conflicts in West Africa. They also called on the political authorities in West Africa to support the transitional government in Guinea toward the restoration of democratic civilian rule in the country, and urged the transitional government in Guinea to respect the timetable set for general elections so as to gain the confidence of the international community. The defense chiefs proposed the employment of alternative dispute resolution methods to address internal conflicts in the region to ensure a more robust approach to regional stability. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, president of the ECOWAS Commission, had expressed optimism about the prospects for a successful transition by the military regime in Guinea. He said there were encouraging signs that the regime was willing to comply with international demand for a short transition. Chambas also emphasized the need for solidarity by the international community for Guinea and urged partners to assist with funding that would enable the country to overcome its challenges, including the conduct of elections under the transition program. |
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