ECOWAS holds emergency session over Senegal’s election crisis and other member exits

The foreign ministers of west African countries held an emergency meeting today, Thursday in Nigeria’s federal capital territory, Abuja to discuss the political crisis in Senegal and 3 other countries under military regime.

The extraordinary session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was constituted following the Senegalese President, Macky Sall’s sudden decision to postpone the country’s elections just a week after Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger declared they were quitting the organization.

This was disclosed by the ECOWAS Mediation & Security Council stating that ministers are gathered to “discuss current security and political issues in the region”.

Ecowas Extra-ordinary Session
photo credit: ECOWAS

ECOWAS has urged Senegal to return to its election timetable after protests broke out in Senegal this weekend when President Sall announced he was postponing the February 25 vote just hours before campaigning was set to begin.

Lawmakers voted almost unanimously in favour of the delay on Monday night after security forces stormed the chamber and removed some opposition members, who were unable to cast their votes.

ECOWAS was formed in May 1975 in Lagos and the only other member to withdraw before now was Mauritania in 2000.

Dolupo Balogun

Written by Boom RadioNG