ABUJA, NIGERIA: Liberia has renewed calls for intense backdoor diplomacy to stop the imminent exit of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali from the regional bloc, ECOWAS.
Liberia’s position was made known by Foreign Minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, during the 93rd Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Council of Ministers Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria.
In an interview with State Radio, ELBC at the close of the two-day gathering on Friday December 13, 2024, Minister Nyanti said, while it is true the three countries are insistent on leaving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), diplomatic efforts must be made against such decision.
The Foreign Minister disclosed that Liberia is one of few countries tasked to continue the diplomatic engagements with the three countries who have organized themselves under the Association of Sahel States. The three ECOWAS countries are currently under military rule.
Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti promised to brief President Joseph Boakai on the situation during the 66th Extra-Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on Sunday in Abuja.
At the same time, ECOWAS has noted and agreed to support Liberia’s Transitional Justice efforts, beginning with the establishment of an Office for War and Economic Crimes Court.
It followed a briefing by Foreign Minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, at the 93rd Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Council of Ministers Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria on Friday.
Minister Nyanti told State-Radio that Liberia informed the member states that not only has the office been established, the President has appointed Cllr. Jallah Barbu as Executive Director of the Office of War and Economic Crimes Court.
According to her, those efforts made by the current administration are geared towards bringing an end to impunity.
The Foreign Minister also stated that following her presentation, it was documented along with the status of the Special Tribunal being setup in the Gambia.
Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti said the Council pledged support to Liberia’s War and Economic Crimes Court effort and agreed to submit the report to the Authority for action on Sunday; writes Varflay Kamara.
