New ECOWAS rep to AU receives hand- over note
• Algeria moves to establish cooperation with ECOWAS
THE Economic Community of W est African State ( ECOWAS) permanent representation to the African Union ( AU) on November 24, 2020 received a new helmsman, Mr. Ake Pierre N’ Guessan, replacing outgoing Permanent Representative, Dr. Nelson Magbagbeola.
At the handover ceremony which took place at the ECOWAS’ Commission headquarters, Dr . Magbagbeola stated that being a subset of the AU , ECOWAS must continue to live up to its billing as the most advanced Regional Economic Community ( REC) on the continent.
The presentation centered on the overview of the workings of the AU, its institutions and organs as well as flagship programmes. It also laid bare, the ECOWAS’ engagement with the senior leadership of the AU Commission, the legal bases of the AU- RECS relationships as well as the mandate of the RECS- RMS liaison offices to the AU.
The presentation also touched on the achievements of the ECOWAS Representation to the AU including respect for diplomacy and international culture, challenges as well as recommendations.
Receiving the document, Mr. Ake Pierre N’guessan noted that although a lot of work has been put in by the Permanent Representation, more needs to be done. Soliciting for the support of all, he pledged to do his best to justify the confidence reposed in him by the President of the ECOWAS Commission.
The Auditor- General of the ECOWAS Institutions Dr. Alfred Braimah, the ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Human Resources Dr. Jeremias Furtado as well as the Director of Cabinet, N’dri Guillaume Gnamien, who were among the senior officials at the ceremony , congratulated the new Permanent Representative and assured him of the cooperation of the Commission in the discharge of his duties.
Meanwhile, People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, has concluded plans with ECOWAS to deepen cooperation amongst each other. Areas lined up for cooperation between ECOWAS and Algeria include politics, security , economy, trade, amongst others.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Democratic Republic of
Algeria, Sabri Boukadoun, while speaking with the President of ECOW AS Commission, Jean- Claude Kassi Brou in Abuja, said Algeria followed and respected the work ECOWAS is doing in many fields.
Boukadoun said he was at the Commission to show his respect, adding that Algeria hoped that like the European Union Commission, ECOWAS will look at the neighbourhood, particularly Algeria.
“So, the neighbourhood of ECOWAS and the direct neighbourhood of Algeria, we are neighbours to ECOWAS member countries that we share long border with most of them.
“This is mainly why I have come to see y ou, the first contact, to talk to you, to see what we can do together in our cooperation and at least, the exchange of views and Algeria is ready for that,” Boukadoun said.
The visiting Algerian Foreign Minister further said with respect for the mandate of ECOWAS, the Algerian team was at the commission to help and to support and also , to help themselves.
“This is what I wanted to do, this is the first time and I hope that we inaugurate a new era between ECOW AS and Algeria,” the Algerian Foreign Minister added.
On his part, Brou said ECOWAS appreciated at a very high level, the ver y close relationship that practically exists between Algeria and ECOWAS member states.
Brou noted that Algeria has very good diplomatic, political, economic, commercial relations with each of the member state of ECOWAS.
“So, as such, we value those relationships that really lasted for years and we do want to work on the basis of those relations to reinforce to see how we can even contribute more at the ECOW AS Commission to strengthen those relations that y ou have with each of the member country of ECOWAS. “Your visit here today to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a good and ver y strong example of this relationship that you have with each of the member country.