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1. An Extraordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government was held in Dakar, Republic of Senegal,
on 3 May 2012 under the chairmanship of H.E. Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire and Chairman of the
Authority.
2. The Summit was convened to examine the evolution of the political and security situations in Guinea Bissau and Mali since
the last Extraordinary Session held on 26 April 2012. 3. The following Heads of State and Government or their accredited representatives attended the Summit:
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His Excellency Blaise COMPAORE President of Burkina Faso
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His Excellency Jose Maria Pereira NEVES Prime Minister, Head of Government of the Republic of
Cape Verde
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His Excellency Alassane OUATTARA President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
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His Excellency Yahya A.J.J. JAMMEH, President of the Republic of The Gambia
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His Excellency John Evans ATTA-MILLS President of the Republic of Ghana
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Her Excellency Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF President of the Republic of Liberia
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His Excellency Dioncounda TRAORE Interim President of the Republic of Mali
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His Excellency Mahamadou ISSOUFOU President of the Republic of Niger
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His Excellency Goodluck Ebele JONATHAN President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
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His Excellency Macky SALL President of the Republic of Senegal
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His Excellency Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE President of the Togolese Republic
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His Excellency Nassirou BAKO-ARIFARI Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration,
Francophonie, and of Beninese of the Exterior, Republic of Benin
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His Excellency François Lonseny FALL Minister of State, Secretary General of the Presidency of
the Republic of Guinea
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Her Excellency Khadijatu BASSIR Ambassador Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra
Leone in Senegal
4. The representatives of the following Organizations and States also participated in the Summit as observers:
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The African Union (AU)
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The West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU)
The United Nations Organization (UNO)
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The European Union (EU)
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Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP)
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Algeria
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Austria
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France
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Germany
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Portugal
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United Kingdom
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United States of America (USA).
5. The Heads of State and Government took note of the Report of H.E. Blaise Compaore, ECOWAS Mediator in the Malian crisis,
as well as the Report of the President of the ECOWAS Commission on recent developments in the political and security situations in
Guinea Bissau and Mali. They also took note of the Report of the President of the Regional Contact Group on Guinea Bissau (GRCGB),
H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, on the outcome of the consultations of the Group with the protagonists in the Guinea Bissau crisis.
6. After careful analysis of the reports, Authority decided as follows:
On Mali
7. Authority strongly condemns the clashes that began on 30 April 2012 in Bamako, and deplores their adverse impact on the
life and security of the Malian population already traumatized by recent events in the country.
8. Authority heard the briefings by the Interim President, H.E. Dioncounda Traore, and the Prime Minister, and takes note of
their statements on the latest developments in Mali. Authority urges them to pursue their efforts aimed at consolidating the
Republican institutions and, in conjunction with the Mediator, facilitating cooperation between the Government and ECOWAS.
9. In this regard, Summit requests the transitional authority to expedite action on the development of the roadmap for the
transition, with set timelines for activities (adoption of legislative, organizational, and operational measures), leading to the holding
of presidential elections and full restoration of constitutional order, including the establishment of a consultative framework on
critical issues relating to the implementation of the transition, with the facilitation of the Mediator.
10. Authority renews its call on the Malian Armed Forces to dedicate themselves to the republican responsibility of protecting
the territorial integrity of the country and the population. In that regard, Authority requests the Mediator to review the role of the
CNRDRE in the transition, in consultation with the transitional Authorities within the limits of the Framework Agreement, and
make appropriate recommendations to Authority.
11. Summit reminds all that any attempt from any quarters to destabilize the transition process shall be liable to targeted
sanctions as set out in the Summit Decisions of 29 March 2012.
12. Authority instructs the Commission to transmit this Decision to the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, the UN
Security Council, and other partners to seek their support on the matter.
13. Authority instructs the Commission to hold the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) in readiness for immediate deployment as
soon as the Malian authorities make the relevant request.
In this
regard, Authority instructs the Commission to define the modalities for military cooperation between the Malian Army and
ESF in view of the deployment. Authority also instructs the Commission to establish contact with all development partners to
ensure their participation in the effective and rapid financing of the intervention.
14. Authority expresses gratitude to the Mediator, H.E. Blaise Compaoré, for his relentless efforts in the resolution of the
double crises in Mali and encourages him to persevere in that direction, including maintaining contacts with the rebellion in the
north. In that regard, Summit welcomes the availability of H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to assist the Mediator in the quest for
a negotiated solution to the crisis in the North.
15. Authority instructs the Group of six Heads of State responsible for monitoring the Malian crisis to take charge of all
relevant matters relating to this dossier.
On Guinea Bissau
16. Authority welcomes the release of the Prime Minister Mr. Carlos Gomes Junior and the Interim President of the Republic
r. Raimundo Pereira on 27th April 2012, and demands that the Military Command release all other personalities still detained
illegally in the country.
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7. Authority commends H.E. Alpha Conde, President of Guinea and ECOWAS Mediator in the Guinea Bissau crisis, for his efforts.
It also commends the Regional Contact Group for the urgent initiatives in the search for appropriate solutions to the crisis.
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8. Authority thanks Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, President of the Republic of the Gambia, for hosting
and conducting the consultations on the crisis in Guinea Bissau in Banjul 29th April 2012.
19. Authority reiterates its firm condemnation of the coup d’Etat of 12th April 2012 and recalls its principle of “zero tolerance” for
power obtained or maintained by unconstitutional means.
20. Consequently, Summit reiterates its demand for an immediate return to constitutional order.
21. After careful consideration of the national context and the positions of the various stakeholders in the crisis, Authority
confirms its previous decision to establish a twelve-month transition, during which the following measures shall be taken
with the assistance of ECOWAS: a review of legal texts (constitution, electoral code, etc.) to achieve greater efficiency;
the reform of the defense and security sector and other reforms, with a view to preparing the ground for the holding of fresh
elections to choose a substantive President by the end of the transition.
22. Authority recommends that, in order to lead the transition within the framework of the Constitution, the National Assembly
renews its leadership, through a vote, whereby the new Speaker of the Assembly thus elected shall assume the responsibility of
Interim President.
23. The new Deputy Speaker thus elected shall become the Speaker of the National Assembly.
24. A consensual Prime Minister with full powers shall be designated to lead a broad-based government that shall lead the
transition to its conclusion.
25. The Interim President and the transitional Prime Minister shall not be eligible to contest in the envisaged presidential
election.
26. The tenure of the members of the Assembly shall be extended through the appropriate mechanisms to cover the
transitional period.
27. Authority decides that the ECOWAS Standby Force, in line with the new approved mandate, shall be deployed to secure the
withdrawal of the Angolan Technical Assistance Mission (MISSANG); to ensure the security of the transition, and help in
the implementation of the Defense and Security Sector Reform Programme.
28. Authority directs the ECOWAS Commission to seek the assistance of the African Union, the United Nations Organization
and the International community for the implementation of the
measures to be taken in Guinea Bissau.
29. Summit hereby decides to maintain the sanctions imposed until such time that all the protagonists accept the modalities for
a return to constitutional order.
30. Authority remains seized with the situation in Guinea Bissau and mandates the Regional Contact Group to take, on its behalf,
all urgent necessary measures for the application of its decisions.
Done at Dakar on 3rd May 2012
THE AUTHORITY
 An Extraordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government was held in Dakar, Republic of Senegal, on 3 May 2012 under the chairmanship of H.E. Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire and Chairman of the Authority.
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