By Mark Menginfia,mmenginfia@gmail.com
The Special Representative of the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Liberia, Ambassador Tunde Ajisomo has alarmed over the wave of insurgencies, banditry and kidnapping in the Sahel Region of West Africa.
He said this is currently afflicting some West African countries sends alarming signals of the possible re-surfacing of internal and regional violent conflicts.
Amb. Ajisomo observed that while violent conflicts appear to be declining in some of Member-States, the issue involving Transhumance and Inter-Communal Conflicts in West Africa is one serious challenge that the sub-region has been dealing with for some time now.
The ECOWAS diplomat was speaking on Thursday, September 12, 2019 at the start of the 2019 ECOWAS Parliamentary Seminar on Transhumance and Inter-Community Conflicts in the ECOWAS Region being hosted at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town on the outskirts of Monrovia.
“As violent conflicts appear to be declining in some of our Member-States, the wave of insurgencies, banditry and kidnapping in the Sahel Region that is currently afflicting some West African countries sends alarming signals of the possible re-surfacing of internal and regional violent conflicts,” said the ECOWAS envoy.
“The issue involving Transhumance and Inter-Communal Conflicts in West Africa is one serious challenge that our Sub-Region has been dealing with for some time now. Given its pervasive nature, one is tempted to ask what are the causes and drivers of the problem of Transhumance and Inter-Communal Conflicts,” he stated.
In a bid to solving issues that could lead to possible conflict internally or regionally, Amb. Ajisomo stressed the importance for Member-States to domesticate in their national laws, the ECOWAS Protocols and Regulations on Transhumance.
He urged Member-States to develop institutional structures required for the implementation of ECOWAS Transhumance Protocols.
“With respect to Inter-Communal conflicts, local conflict management committees should be set up and membership should include pastoralists, farmers, traditional authorities, representatives of civil societies, law enforcement agencies, local and State government and, in some countries, counties and district Officials,” he recommended.
“The Committees should, amongst others, define and demarcate grazing routes and grazing areas, as well as provision of necessary pastoral infrastructure. Equally, there is a need for more attention for Land Use Rights in line with local legislation and also to be in tandem with the ECOWAS Protocol Requirements on Transhumance, such as identifying regional transhumance corridors, the usage of ECOWAS-printed International Transhumance Certificate (ITC) to Member-States,” the ECOWAS Special Representative asserted.
Amb. Ajisomo pointed out that sensitization campaigns on peaceful co-existence should be undertaken in our Member-States and the outcome of the Report of the Ministerial Meetings that ECOWAS Commission organized in 2018 in Abuja on Transhumance for Ministers and other relevant stakeholders in charge of Security in West and Central Africa be implemented.
“Concrete actions should also be put in place to prevent human rights abuses including the promotion of justice and the rule of law. Furthermore, the role of women and youths in conflict prevention and management should be given more priority,” he added.