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Press release : Tournons La Page, WADEMOS, Afrikajom Center and several civil society organizations are calling on ECOWAS to implement reforms including the standardization of term limits for Heads of State and Government.

Wademos, Tournons La Page, Afrikajom Center, CDD West Africa, Transition Monitoring Group and several Nigerian civil society organizations call on the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, on the eve of the 66th Conference of Heads of State, to be more diligent in implementing reforms including the standardization of term limits for Heads of State and Government.

In the run-up to the 66th ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State and Government, the Solidarity Network for Democracy in West Africa (WADEMOS), the Mouvement International Tournons La Page (TLP), AFRIKAJOM CENTER, CDD WEST AFRICA, Transition Monitoring group (TMG), as well as several Nigerian civil society organizations, met in Abuja on Friday December 13, 2024 to analyze the region's major and persistent democratic challenges, discuss impending ECOWAS reforms, encourage multi-stakeholder advocacy and make strong recommendations for submission to the Conference of Heads of State and Government.

In a context marked by growing challenges to democratic governance, respect for human rights, stability and integration in our region, we, the actors of civil society, wish to express our shared commitment to the consolidation of the democratic values on which our community is founded. To meet these challenges, it is important that ECOWAS reinforces its role as guarantor of stability and good governance.

To this end, we appeal to the Conference of Heads of State and Government, on the eve of the 66th Conference of Heads of State and Government, to face up to their historic responsibility and unanimously urge them to :

  1. adopt the provision limiting the terms of office of Heads of State and Government, in order to further consolidate the principles of constitutional convergence and democracy in our community;
  2. relentlessly pursue discussions with sister ESA countries on the implementation of reforms likely to guarantee their continued membership of the Community;
  3. undertake urgent structural reforms to strengthen the prerogatives of the Commission and Parliament;
  4. enhance the quality of electoral processes to guarantee the accession to power and alternation of power through free, honest and transparent elections;
  5. take appropriate measures to support citizen participation in political decision-making and processes.

On the eve of its 50th anniversary, ECOWAS has an obligation to reinforce its credibility by successfully carrying out the reforms essential to strengthening its legitimacy and becoming the ECOWAS of the peoples.

On the eve of its 50th anniversary, ECOWAS has an obligation to reinforce its credibility by successfully carrying out the reforms essential to strengthening its legitimacy and becoming the ECOWAS of the peoples.

 

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