By Mark N. Mengonfia –mmenginfia@gmail.com
Moustapha Cisse Lo, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament has condemned in the strangest terms the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, as the Parliament opened its first extraordinary session in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia.
Speaker Lo said “Indeed, in South Africa we have been witnessing, for the past few weeks, a resurgence of xenophobic acts of extreme violence.”
Just as the ECOWAS Parliament Speaker spoke Monday, South Africa has its special Presidential envoy in the Nigerian capital, Abuja with a message regret and apology from the South African government.
Mr. Lo told the gathering that at the time of their session, serious events were taking place on the continent and they should be given special attention.
He indicated that the attack in South Africa and other African countries constitute real threats and serious obstacles to the African integration that is so dear to them (Parliamentary) and for which they are committed.
The Speaker in his massage indicated that those sad images of Africa, these painful events and the tensions they engender challenge them as elected representatives of their people.
“We are extremely concerned and strongly indignant” he said.
He on behalf of the ECOWAS Parliament expressed their compassion for the victims and their families and firmly condemned what he described as barbaric, untimely acts with disastrous humanitarian, socio-economic and diplomatic consequences.
He went on to say that the root causes of this recurrent situation need be studied with a view to reaching a permanent solution.
Mr. Lo used his office as Speaker to call on the South African authorities to assume their responsibility by guaranteeing all their foreign nationals the right to life, physical integrity and freedom of movement.
“We also call on all African States and the African Union to take diligent initiatives to restore peace and security and restore calm in South Africa and all other States” he said.
He as well said that the closure of Nigerian borders with Benin for more than a month and Niger, most recently, is a hindrance to the achievement of the Community’s main objective of creating a prosperous West African region without borders, where there is peace and harmony
“This closure of borders is a threat to the implementation of the protocol on the free movement of persons at a time when it is necessary to step up our efforts to effectively remove barriers within the Community. The harmful effects of this measure are observed on both sides. The ECOWAS Parliament calls for compliance with Community provisions and calls for the reopening of borders and a coordinated fight against smuggling in the region”.
This extraordinary session, the first in Liberia, is the fourth of its kind held outside Headquarters, after those of Lomé, in 2017, Dakar in February 2018 and Abidjan in September 2018.
The session agenda focuses on the adoption of the parliament draft Budgetfiscal year 2020; revision of Rule 13 of the Rules of Procedure of the Fourth Legislature of our Parliament, devoted to the Inaugural Session and they are expected to as well discuss some important issues relating to unity and development of African during the one week gathering in the Liberian Capital, Monrovia.
On behalf of ECOWAS extended warmest thanks to the President of the Republic of Liberia, George Weah, his Government and the Liberian people for the warm and brotherly hospitality. President Weah, a former member of the ECOWAS Parliament, also addressed the opening session in Monrovia on Monday.
“I would particularly like to express my gratitude to His Excellency the President of the Republic for having accepted to take part, personally, in this opening ceremony.
Mr President of the Republic, your presence is the best proof that you attach great importance to the essential role of Parliament.
This I would like to emphasize the importance of this Session, although it is provided for by the Additional Act on strengthening the prerogatives of the ECOWAS Parliament” he said.
Speaker Lo added that “it is for us to comply with our internal procedure leading to the adoption of Parliament’s budget”.
The opening session of the extraordinary session was attended by Liberia’s President George Weah, VP Jewel Taylor, House of Representatives Speaker , Senate pro tempore and other government officials of Liberia.
During the opening ceremony, Speaker Lo was given a name from the Kru tribe.
He was given Manneh name when interpreted means a person who takes others responsibilities, a person on whose shoulders others rest on, that’s according to Liberia’s Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf.
Officially declearing the session open, President George Manneh Weah, in remarks, recounted his days at the ECOWAS parliament when he was a member.
According to the Liberia leader during his stay at the ECOWAS he served as member of various committees
The one time ECOWAS parliament member tremendous challenges of the region in particular and the continent as a in general.
President Weah thanked the Speaker of the Parliament and members of that regional body for their decision to have the session hosted in Liberia for the first of its kind ever.