-MPs to issue Resolution on bloody Xenophobic attacks in South Africa
By Mark N. Mengonfia– mmenginfia@gmail.com
Members of Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are this week holding the body’s first Extraordinary Sitting in the Liberian capital, Monrovia and it comes in the wake of the violent xenophobic attack on Nigerians and other Africans.
The ECOWAS Parliament MPs have expressed concern over the wave of violence in South Africa and has promised to issue a resolution during its seminar on Transhumance and Intercommunity Conflict in the region being held in Liberia’s Capital, Monrovia.
The institution’s concern comes as the result of the recent xenophobic attack perpetrated against some national of Africa in the South African city of Johannesburg which claimed seven person’s lives, the BBC reported.
In an interview upon arrival of some members of the parliament at the Reports International Airport, the Chairperson on Rule of Law of the ECOWAS Parliament, Christophe Padumhekou Tchao, who comes from the Togolese National Assembly said that the ECOWAS Parliament is expected to adopt a resolution on the situation in South Africa during the Monrovia setting.
Mr Tchao told journalists in Monrovia on Monday that the resolution will be presented to the ECOWAS Heads of State calling for protection of African nationals residing in South Africa.
He noted that when South Africans were fighting with whites during that standoff, they (South Africans) received supports for Africans through their heads of States.
“We fought for their freedom. And now they don’t want to see their brothers and sisters. It is no good. That’s why we are here to discuss these things,” the Togolese National Assembly members said with some sadness of continence of face.
Nigeria as you may be aware were the once who face the highest pinch of the recent xenophobic actions of the South Africans.
This could be the reason for which the discussion that is expected to draft the resolution is to be led by Nigerian delegation, the largest parliamentary block of the ECOWAS Parliament.
Members of that regional body had begun arriving in Liberia for their extraordinary session expected to kick off this Tuesday, September 10 in Monrovia.
Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Ambassador Moustapha Cissé Lo addressing reporters shortly said he was pleased to be in Liberia for the first extraordinary session of the Parliament outside of Nigeria.
Giving a rundown of the activities that are expected to be held in Liberia for the few days, the head of the Liberian delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, Rep. Edwin M. Snowe said the extraordinary sitting will highlight activities to include a parliamentary seminar on transhumance and intercommunity conflicts in the ECOWAS region, ECOWAS Parliamentary women forum with Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, and the official extra-ordinary session at the Ministerial Complex in Monrovia.
He disclosed that Vice President Taylor will officially open the seminar on “Transhumance and Intercommunity Conflicts in the ECOWAS Region” on Thursday, September 12.
Experts including AsatuBah-Kenneth of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) and the Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), Tolbert Nyenswah are expected to make presentations on transhumance activities – the practice of moving livestock from one grazing ground/country to another and also cross border activities.
Rep. Snowe went on to say that on Monday, September 16, The Parliament’s second extraordinary session will officially open with a keynote address by President George M. Weah as guest of honor.
Speaking early, was the Chairperson on Gender for the ECOWAS Parliament, Reine Sakanide expressed the need for more women in parliament.
Madam Sakainde, who comes from Burkina Faso, said currently the total number of 115 members of the ECOWAS Parliament, the women representation is just 25, the number she considered as low.
She wants at least 30% of women representation from all of the WCOWAS member states something according to her will greatly help with the representation of the other gender.
She indicated that even in her country, Burkina Faso, women in parliament are not more the dynamic she wants to change.