The Ordinary Session was held in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria under the chairmanship of H.E. Umaro Sissoco Embalo, President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau, and chair of the Authority.
“The Authority welcomes the contribution of the Peace Support Missions deployed by ECOWAS, particularly the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) and the Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea Bissau (SSMGB),” said a communiqué by the Authority.
“The Authority decides to extend the mandate of ECOMIG for a further year from 1st January 2023 and instructs the Commission to consider, within that period, a gradual downsizing of the Mission and commence the training and reorientation of The Gambia Defense and Security Forces to enable them to play their constitutionally assigned roles in a democratic dispensation,” added the communiqué.
The Authority urges the Gambian government to diligently implement the Security Sector Reforms (SSR) and instructs the Commission to ensure that the ECOMIG Forces composition reflects a balanced regional outlook comprising troops from the ECOWAS Member States beyond the current countries participation in the Mission,” the communiqué also said.
The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to the promotion of peace, security and stability in the region as prerequisites for the economic development and integration of the region.
