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HOW PEACEFUL PROTESTERS IN GUINEA BISSAU WERE ARRESTED

22 May 2024
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Categories: Situation Monitoring Center

The Issue

On Saturday 18th May 2024, a group of peaceful protesters from the Front Popular, a political movement in Guinea Bissau were arrested by security forces in Bissau. Acting on order of the Minister of the Interior, the security forces disrupted a scheduled peaceful demonstration and proceeded to detain numerous protesters, including the leaders of the organization.

The peaceful march was organized with the objective of demanding the restoration of the rule of law and democracy, as well as addressing the pressing issue of high food prices. The arrests escalated into uncontrolled violence, including the beating and arrest of individuals not involved in the demonstration.

Response by Civil Society:

The Network of Human Rights Defenders in Guinea-Bissau has issued a statement denouncing the abusive actions of the security forces in Guinea Bissau sanctioned by the Interior Ministry. It also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained during the demonstration.

Call to Action

  • Civil Society must demand for the protection of civil liberties, especially the need to safeguard the rights of citizens to express their grievances peacefully. Civil society in Guinea Bissau must actively resist any and all actions that suppress these rights.
  • The Government of Guinea Bissau should investigate the issues thoroughly and hold those responsible for the excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators, particularly the Minister of the Interior and the Secretary of State, to equity.

For inquiries and further information, please contact us at:

West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF)

8, Jaba Close, Opposite FCDA Minister’s Gate

Area 11, Garki Abuja – Nigeria

Tel: +234 903 393 9809

Email: info@wacsofoscao.org

Website: www.wacsofoscao.org 

The West African Civil Society Forum’s (WACSOF) Situation Alert serves to keep the public informed about the latest developments occurring across the West African region and how they affect civil society in general. Through concise updates, it aims to raise awareness about critical issues around, human rights, democracy, social justice, peace, security and stability. By disseminating timely information, the Situation Alert empowers individuals and organizations to stay informed and take necessary actions to address pressing concerns in the region.

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AMB. ADEREMI AJIBEWA A PROMINENT POLITICAL AFFAIRS EXPERT, CIVIL SOCIETY ENTHUSIAST AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SCHOLAR VISITS THE WACSOF SECRETARIAT

15 May 2024
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Categories: Activity Reports

Abuja – 08/05/2024. Ambassador Aderemi Ajibewa (PhD, fspsp, ficmc, ficm), a prominent Intellectual, political affairs expert and civil society enthusiast in West Africa, made a momentous visit to the Regional Secretariat of the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Amb. Ajibewa, currently an Ambassadorial Fellow with Nigeria’s National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), visited the Secretariat of the West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) in order to explore the possibility of partnerships between NIPSS and WACSOF. Along with that, he came with encouragement to share with the WACSOF Secretariat team on the need for them to stay focused and work hard in strengthening the organization.

During his visit, Amb. Remi was warmly received by the WACSOF General Secretary, Mr. Kop’ep Dabugat, in his office, where they agreed to explore possibilities for joint activities around the strategic role that Nigeria can play in strengthening political stability across West Africa. Here, the natural regional leadership of Nigeria stood as a key factor in ensuring stability within the region, and is seen as a strategic asset for the country.

WACSOF Secretariat Team With Amb. Aderemi Ajibewa

In addition, they also discussed the need for an effective WACSOF, while emphasizing the need to enhance its organizational structure for increased effectiveness in mobilizing West African CSOs on regional issues. Here, Dr. Remi stressed the importance of establishing clear institutional mechanisms and processes within WACSOF. He also stressed the need for the organization to be seen as proactively addressing burning issues within the regional context. He highlighted the critical role that CSOs play in complementing and supporting the agenda set forth by ECOWAS and its Member States, while recollecting the very important role that civil society through WACSOF has played over the years.

While departing, Dr. Ajibewa also committed to avail his expertise and experience at any point in time to assist WACSOF in its journey to reemerge as a more robust and efficient platform for CSO mobilization in West Africa. His pledge to provide guidance and support underscores his dedication to advancing the collective goals of the region and strengthening the voice of civil society in shaping the future of West Africa. Dr. Ajibewa’s visit was very instructive in encouraging the WACSOF Secretariat Team as a whole.

Wacsof Secretariat Team with Amb. Aderemi Ajibewa

Ambassador Remi is a PhD holder in Politics and International Relations from the University of Lancaster, UK. He has played several important roles within the political and diplomatic circles, the Academia and the civil society spaces, in West Africa. These include: Director of Political Affairs in ECOWAS, Coordinator of Research and Advocacy as well as Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in London. In recognition of his meritorious service to his fatherland, he was appointed Ambassador in-situ by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, on December 18, 2020.

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ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof. Fatou Sow Saar, Calls for Resolution of WACSOF’S Current Challenges

7 May 2024
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Categories: Press Release

The General Secretary of the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), Mr. Kop’ep Dabugat, paid a courtesy visit to the ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr as the official entry point of WACSOF to ECOWAS. The purpose of the visit was to brief her on the current state of WACSOF and request the partnership of ECOWAS in addressing matters crucial to its smooth operation and functioning for greater impact in supporting the ECOWAS agenda.

During the meeting, Mr. Dabugat informed Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr that despite the internal challenges being experienced by the organization of recent, WACSOF is back in business, and waxing stronger. He also mentioned that the organization’s secretariat is now fully operational, with a strong communications infrastructure in place, and with a set of focused outreach programs being rolled out to effectively mobilize and engage the civil society across the region. He added that the organization has initiated several programs to address emerging developments across the region as well as to strengthen its institutional processes and systems. He added that the organization plans to convene its Peoples’ Forum (General Assembly) in July 2024.

Concerning the current internal situation of WACSOF, Mr. Dabugat informed the Commissioner that while WACSOF continues to struggle with its challenges, the civil society space across the region continues to remain in disarray. Hence, he drew her attention to the need for ECOWAS to intervene. He further informed her that in order to finally address the current internal situation in WACSOF, the organization’s secretariat is currently engaging ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security (PAPS), Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah and his team towards convening a dialogue and mediation process. While thanking her for receiving him, Mr. Dabugat emphasized his commitment to the goal of reclaiming and strengthening WACSOF for a more harmonious partnership with ECOWAS.

In response, Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr emphasized her strong interest in working together with civil society, while regretting the internal divisions within WACSOF. She also emphasized that such a situation of crisis within an organization discourages partners from being involved with the organization. While drawing attention to the need for WACSOF to find a lasting solution to its current challenges, she mentioned that she would consider supporting the organization to solve its problems as a first step towards strengthening its institutional capacity. She also stated her commitment to explore being involved in the efforts to convene a dialogue as earlier mentioned. She believes that this will assist WACSOF to navigate towards a lasting solution for its current challenges. Her goal is to restore a robust and unified WACSOF that will be an effective platform for the mobilization of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in West Africa.

West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), Secretariat

8, Jaba Close, Opposite FCDA Minister’s gate) Area 11, Garki

Abuja, Nigeria.

Email: info@wacsofoscao.org

Phone: +234 903 393 9809Website: www.wacsofoscao.org

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WACSOF Featured in Vanguard Article: WACSOF, CISLAC, and TMG warn against the disintegration of ECOWAS

15 April 2024
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Categories: WACSOF in the News

We are pleased to share that WACSOF was recently featured in a Vanguard article titled “CISLAC, TI, WACSOF warn against disintegration of ECOWAS”. The article highlighted ‘WACSOF’s Participation in ensuring Unity in Response to ECOWAS Withdrawals‘ as WACSOF, along with other civil society organizations, urges ECOWAS for a united front in West Africa following the withdrawal announcements from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

We are grateful to Vanguard for recognizing WACSOF’s work in various thematic areas like;

  1. Regional Integration: WACSOF is actively involved in promoting regional integration efforts within West Africa.
  2. Peace and Security: The organization works to maintain peace and stability in the region.
  3. Democracy and Governance: WACSOF advocates for democratic values and good governance practices across West African nations.

This exposure allows us to reach a wider audience and raise awareness about WACSOF advocacy for a strong and unified ECOWAS, highlighting the benefits of regional cooperation in areas like:

  • Peacekeeping: Joint military missions to ensure regional security.
  • Economic Growth: Free movement of goods and people to boost trade.
  • Infrastructure Development: Collaborative efforts on projects like dams and power grids.

[Optional: Include a quote from a WACSOF representative]

Quote by The WACSOF General Secretary Mr. Kop’ep Dabugat: “The decision by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to withdraw from ECOWAS is disheartening. At a time when we’re discussing a single market, disintegration weakens the entire region. We urge these countries to reconsider and refocus on dialogue to strengthen ECOWAS for a more peaceful and prosperous West Africa.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, WACSOF, alongside CISLAC and TI, urge for regional unity and a commitment to democratic processes as we caution against the fracturing of ECOWAS and the potential hardships it would cause. We at WACSOF appreciate Vanguard Newspaper for providing a platform to share these concerns.

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