By SARA ALMEIDA
Africa-Press – Cape verde. At a time when the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is facing the worst crisis ever, and from Addis Ababa, where he accompanied the President of the Republic to the 37th Ordinary session of the African Union (AU), the head of Cape Verdean diplomacy talks about the concerns and main lines of the country’s foreign policy. The need to strengthen the institutions of African States and the reformulation of regional intervention, as well as the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve disputes between Nations, are some of the topics covered in this conversation with Rui Figueiredo Soares, in which integration is outlined of Cape Verde – a small island state, but “a large oceanic state” – in the sub-region, in the region and in the world.
Before we address the ECOWAS crisis, let’s talk about this event at the AU. What concerns and inputs did the Cape Verdean agenda bring to these meetings and summit?
The main concerns relate to the issue of security; the issue of peace, the issue of non-constitutional ruptures of governments and some challenges linked to terrorism, particularly in the Sahel. These are enormous challenges and Cape Verde brought the contribution of, as a small island state, defending that the institutions of different countries must be strengthened so that we have good governance, democracy and safeguarding the rule of law.
In this institutional reform, how could the African Union intervene, taking into account that it is an issue that involves the sovereignty of States?
It’s true, but when you belong to a Union, as is the case with the European Union, the African Union and other Unions that exist around the world, part of the sovereignty is ceded in favor of the supranational entity. In this case, there will be issues that must be analyzed as a whole, considering the group of countries that make up the African Union. In the ongoing reform, which President Paul Kagame will present to his peers at tomorrow’s meeting [ NR: the interview was held on Friday, 17 ], we must find adequate spaces for the African Union to have effective mechanisms for intervention in situations extreme, such as the coups d’état that we have experienced, terrorist threats to peace, but also economic issues that have to do with development, youth, education and health. That is, we need to seriously think about the new role of what was the Organization of African Unity, the OAU and later became the African Union, AU. Now we want this African Union to effectively assume its role in terms of policies for the continent.
However, one of the reasons behind the coups d’état in the subregion was the inability to combat the extremists who threaten these Sahel countries. Have the African Union and ECOWAS failed to support these countries in their fight against terrorism?
There may have been some difficulties and failures on both sides, but for us the central issue has to do with the fragility of the institutions in these countries. It is true that these institutions have a fundamental role that they must play, but we cannot think that stability, in any country, is dictated exclusively by external institutions. CEDAO has been seeking, and has not always managed in the happiest way, to position itself on issues that have to do with security, peace, coups d’état. In fact, there were many discussions about a possible military intervention [in countries where coups d’état occurred], which Cape Verde did not support at the time and which ended up not materializing. So, we recognize the responsibility of these organizations, but we have to think, above all, about how to internally reinforce the countries’ institutions in favor of democracy, good governance and the rule of law, as I mentioned. This will be the way to achieve significant advances.
ECOWAS is experiencing what is already considered its worst crisis ever, with three countries [Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali] announcing their withdrawal from the Community. What consequences does Cape Verde foresee? An ECOWAS of 12? An implosion?
Cape Verde has suggested, in all forums, a lot of consideration to ECOWAS and the Member States, particularly the countries that announced their departure, arguing that any dispute must be resolved with dialogue, with restraint and with a lot of diplomacy. It does not appear that this has been the route used so far. There are protocols on the matter, the Revised Treaty [of ECOWAS, 1993] itself has its mechanisms for decoupling – no one is obliged to be eternally bound to any contract – but it seems to us that, despite the position reaffirmed by the governments that perpetrated coups d’état in these countries, there will still be room for dialogue and to find solutions that avoid the implosion of ECOWAS. ECOWAS, as the President of the African Union Commission said, at the opening of the [AU] Executive Council meeting, is one of the most prosperous regions and one of the most consolidated organizations in the African Union and it is a shame that we are witnessing this scenario. Therefore, we have a way to go here to include everyone, reestablish dialogue with these countries and get everyone to commit to regional development, as well as to the development of the African Union as a whole.
But, in addition to these three countries, we have others that face serious deficiencies in democratic governance. At least around half of the Member States are facing political instability (and this is not new…). As good governance is one of the principles of ECOWAS, how will this impact the regional integration project?
The instability, uncertainty and, in some cases, violence in some countries in our sub-region are very harmful to our sub-region. The impact is enormous, in fact, and Cape Verde views these situations with great concern. The President of the Republic and the Prime Minister have already expressed their views on the matter and I, personally, have also done so. In fact, at the last meeting of the Mediation and Security Council, Cape Verde demonstrated its concern regarding these issues and we believe that it is necessary to reformulate ECOWAS itself, sharing responsibilities with the African Union. More structured cooperation between the African Union and regional organizations is needed for more effective intervention in our countries. ECOWAS may need to rethink the framework for its own functioning and these crises – the coups d’état in the aforementioned countries and also in Guinea Conakry, which is also governed by a military junta; the situation in Senegal; in Guinea-Bissau; attempted coups d’état in other countries – these are warnings that must be read very carefully. We see that global security is an interconnected issue. No one lives in isolation in today’s increasingly global world, and the solution will have to be common so that we can experience better days. Regarding the situation in Senegal, in particular, there are signs of openness for dialogue. The president himself has already taken some measures aimed at calming tempers and the Constitutional Council annulled the decrees that proposed the postponement of the elections. We will follow the situation very carefully, but we are certain that Senegal and the Senegalese, in their experience, in their tradition of democracy, will find a way out of this crisis they are experiencing.
Nigeria, which is ECOWAS’s greatest economic force, also faces multiple internal challenges. How do these internal problems affect the Community and its institutions?
In fact, all the world’s major challenges and conflicts have repercussions in Cape Verde, even though they are happening thousands of kilometers away. They have direct repercussions and without disregarding this interconnection, we cannot forget the scope of situations experienced in all countries: issues of terrorism, insecurity, difficulties, wars or epidemics. The covid-19 epidemic has, in fact, given us a prime example of what this increasingly global world in which we live is. All these issues are intertwined and no country can live in isolation, especially nowadays. Therefore, instability in any ECOWAS country, especially in a giant country like Nigeria, has direct impacts on the organization as a whole. Cape Verde will be somewhat alienated, physically separated from the direct repercussions, for example, on issues of terrorism, but insecurity, terrorism and terrorism are global threats that must be understood as such.
Security was a scope introduced with the Revised ECOWAS Treaty. He spoke about reformulating the functioning of the Community. Is a review of the refounding Treaty necessary?
Yes, certainly. The Treaty will have its limitations. [It should be noted that] Cape Verde, as a small island state, deserves special treatment and we have been fighting on this point for a long time. Article 68 contemplates the possibility of differentiated treatment, but this provision demands a more in-depth analysis not only of the issue of contributions to the Community – an irritating issue of our integration into ECOWAS -, but also of issues that have to do with large investments made by ECOWAS in several countries on the continent, from which Cape Verde has not benefited. Here we have a vast possibility of rethinking ECOWAS itself and the inclusion of small island states, such as Cape Verde. Although Guinea-Bissau also has an island portion, it is Cape Verde that predominantly experiences the impacts of insularity and we will have to put this dossier back on the table.
The integration of Cape Verde is a political commitment assumed, even enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic. However, there has always been some skepticism and these conflicts also generate distrust among the population. How does this impact Cape Verde’s desire to invest in regional integration?
It is true that regional integration faces some resistance and skepticism in Cape Verdean society. However, there is also resistance and skepticism on the part of continental countries in relation to Cape Verde, which look with some suspicion on our island reality and the advances we have made in terms of the Human Development Index, in terms of growth, in strengthening institutions , the functioning of the Democratic Rule of Law and respect for human rights. There is, in fact, some distrust also on the part of our continental neighbors. Overcoming these challenges is a job that must be done diligently, by everyone. The press, for example, will play a fundamental role in this matter, allowing people to express their points of view – this is what the free press is -, but also transmitting information about what is happening on our continent, a continent full of potential . It is a territory that is not characterized as a continent of the future: it is a continent of the present, with everything it offers the world and with the partnerships that all blocs are seeking with Africa. We have inexhaustible riches to explore and it would be good if Cape Verde could view its integration into ECOWAS in a positive way; that the ECOWAS countries, and the African continent in general, could look at Cape Verde as part of their development process, with a specificity due to the fact that we are islands, and we all represent a “plus” in this equation. It is work that must also be done by the business classes in all countries. Commercial exchanges and the exchange of experiences between entrepreneurs must be a fundamental point and this is what we are trying to do. We are committed to attracting more investors and encouraging Cape Verdeans to establish joint ventures with similar companies in neighboring countries.
But we know that there are several divergences, in governance, in monetary projects, etc. So, where can we find points of convergence in these and other aspects, which are the axes of more robust integration?
Convergence must be found in the midst of differences between countries. We cannot cancel each other out, our experiences cannot be changed and each block, each country, each group must look at the other with an interest in knowing and taking advantage of what is positive. We have a lot of good things in Cape Verde, but we will also have less good aspects, in which neighboring countries in our subregion are better. The keyword will essentially be tolerance also among Nations. Recognize cultural differences, different levels of development and different ways, for example, of doing business, which are completely different in some realities. In the midst of differences, it is important to find common points, that is, our common interests. States are guided by interests, not feelings and we must, therefore, calmly and objectively, look at Cape Verde’s interests in ECOWAS.
We have several conflicts in our sub-region and other parts of the continent (War in Sudan, the situation in Tigray in Ethiopia, …), but the crisis is not just in Africa. The world, as a whole, is going through the worst war crisis in the last 50 years (Ukraine, Gaza…). In the midst of this global crisis, what lines will Cape Verde adopt in foreign policy to position itself in the unstable world order?
Cape Verde continues to defend the great flags of development. When colleagues ask me what the secret of Cape Verde is, a country devoid of natural resources, I always remember that Cape Verde, despite being a small island country, is a large oceanic state. We are 99.6% sea. Here, for example, the issue of the blue economy stands out and the Oceans were on the agenda at this Summit of heads of State and Government of the African Union. We defend, as mentioned, the major issues that have to do with strengthening institutions, the democratic rule of law, good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, as intangible elements, of great value for countries to achieve desired development. Cape Verde has also defended its position as a small island developing state (SIDS). In September last year, we held a preparatory meeting for the major conference on SIDS that will take place in Antigua and Barbuda [in May 2024], in which the new action program will be defined [after the approval, in 2014, of the action plan entitled SAMOA Pathway]. The Secretary-General of the United Nations will organize, in September 2024, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the Future Summit, where all these issues will be under analysis and where Cape Verde intends to be a loud voice, namely in the adoption of a Vulnerability Index that takes into account the situation of Small Island Developing States, which are those that pollute the least, but are most affected by climate change. So, in the midst of this general turmoil, these problems, Cape Verde must seek its place in the international arena as a useful, credible and predictable partner, with clear positions that it defends and always showing itself open to all conflicts and situations being resolved. through dialogue and diplomacy. This is our path to integration in the world and participation in global development.
AU Summit
The 37th African Union Summit took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the headquarters of the regional organization between the 17th and 18th of February, and was preceded by several meetings and meetings between representatives of African Nations.
Cape Verde was represented by its President of the Republic, José Maria Neves, accompanied by the head of Cape Verdean diplomacy, Rui Figueiredo Soares.
José Maria Neves defended a “profound reform in the African Union”, proposing the adoption of a multi-level governance model with better integration of States and regional organizations.
During his stay in Addis Ababa, the head of state also promoted the expansion of partnerships and led the agenda as Champion for the Preservation of Africa’s Natural and Cultural Heritage until 2025, highlighting that the Presidents of Equatorial Guinea and Kenya, Teodoro Obiang and William Ruto have agreed to take on the role of co-champions for the central and eastern regions of the continent
AU on the UN Security Council
Among the topics highlighted at this Summit were the challenges faced in the region, namely political instability and the worsening of regional conflicts, especially in the Sahel, which put the constitutive principles of the AU and the vitality and credibility of the organization to the test.
At the end of this meeting of heads of state and government, the President of Mauritania and new president of the AU, Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, stated in his speech that one of the continent’s main goals for 2024 is to secure a permanent position in the Peace and United Nations Security.
Health and education were also topics discussed at the Summit, with the AU adopting as its motto for 2024 “Educating an African fit for the 21st century”, an aspect also highlighted in the final speech with El Ghazouani insisting on the need to prepare new generations for future challenges.
Next Saturday, 24th, a meeting will be held in Abuja, Nigeria to analyze the political and security situation in ECOWAS, following the announcement of the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali from the sub-regional Community.
Expresso das Ilhas
For More News And Analysis About Cape verde Follow Africa-Press
