President Akufo-Addo, the Chairman of ECOWAS, has urged his colleagues in the subregion to take firm and tough action against countries whose leaders are deposed in military coups.
If such decisions are not made, President Akufo-Addo believes the entire subregion will be inundated with military takeovers.
“Let us address this threat collectively and decisively before it devastates the entire region,” he said at an emergency ECOWAS summit in Accra to discuss the situation in Burkina Faso.
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“The African Union expresses its unwavering support for ECOWAS’ efforts to address the region’s peace and security challenges, including the resurgence of military coups.”
“This is the solidarity and international coalition that is needed to halt the political turbulence in our region and the continent at large,” President Akufo-Addo said.
The emergency meeting comes after an ECOWAS diplomatic mission led by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, met Burkina Faso’s military leaders in Ouagadougou on Monday.
On January 24, some soldiers detained president Roch Marc Christian Kabore who was contending with public anger at his failure to stem jihadist violence in parts of the country.
Mr. Kabore was elected in 2015 following a popular revolt that forced out long-time leader Blaise Compaore
Mr. Compaore had himself had seized power in 1987 during a coup in which the country’s revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara, was killed.
At the meeting, ECOWAS representatives are expected to discuss possible sanctions on Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso has already been suspended from the 15-member ECOWAS.
The African Union has also suspended Burkina Faso from its Peace and Security Council.
