The second ordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament for the year 2019 closed its doors on December 14 at
Abuja. The Community budget for 2020, adopted unanimously by the deputies present, amounts to 399,499
261 units of account or, in easy French, about 329.5 billion FCFA. Appointment is taken for a
extraordinary session which should end this 4th legislature of the Community Parliament on February 4
next in The Gambia.
Thanks to this last ordinary session, the outgoing President of Parliament, the Senegalese Moustapha Cissé
Lo, granted an exclusive to L'Observateur Paalga in the Nigerian capital. In this interview, he reviews
of his tenure at the head of the institution, addresses the issues of the fight against terrorism and integration which
concern the sub-region. If concerning the fight against terrorism he pleads for a reinforced solidarity of the
international community with the affected countries, with regard to the launch of the single currency of the
ECOWAS, the ECO, in 2020, it invites caution and further reflection.
The reader will understand that the interview was carried out before the official announcement of the birth of the ECO made in
Abidjan on December 22 by President Alassane Ouattara.
At the opening of this budgetary session, 82 deputies out of 115 were present. The quorum was certainly largely
exceeded, but given the importance of the main point on the agenda, the examination of the budget of the community, we
would be expected to see more participation from MPs. Any comments on this observation?
Allow me to salute through your columns all the citizens of ECOWAS, in particular those who
are reading you. I have great pleasure in communicating with them. I would like to point out right away that we are one
West African Community Parliament. The deputies who sit there come from the National Assemblies of the
15 ECOWAS member countries. This is not without calendar constraints for them. But they make an effort to
free themselves to give life to the Community Parliament. For this session, there are excused absentees,
especially due to illness. I will cite the only example of the 2nd vice-president who is currently
suffering. She had always been present at previous sessions. There are also other cases of impediment
objectives like that of the deputies from Guinea-Bissau. You know that there are currently elections taking place
take place in this country (the interview was conducted on Friday 22 November 2019) and all Members
Bissau-Guineans are not there. In Nigeria there have also been recent legislative elections, and
deputies lost their seats; consequently, they can no longer sit in the Community Parliament even if they
are not yet replaced on our lists. Here is a set of facts that make me rejoice in the presence
of the 82 deputies at the opening of this session (November 20, 2019). Moreover, other parliamentarians have told us
joined afterwards. On yesterday's plenary attendance list, I counted 92 present. Today they are 96 and they
actively participate in the discussions. In addition to the quorum, which is exceeded, this participation in the debates
is important to emphasize.
In your address at the opening of the session, you said that you had inherited a gadget institution which
grown under your leadership with the support of heads of state. How did the mutation take place?
Since our election as the head of the Community Parliament in 2016, we have undertaken reforms so that
the institution is more dynamic and able to meet the expectations of the populations. In this regard, we have
seized the Administration and Finance Committee (CAF), the ECOWAS Commission, the Council of Ministers
of ECOWAS and the Conference of Heads of State and Government so that Parliament has the means to fulfill its ambitions. With the support of President Macky Sall when he was President-in-Office of ECOWAS and also thanks
to the benevolent understanding of other Heads of State, we have obtained since December 2016 to have a
right of inspection on questions of security, politics, the free movement of persons and goods and the
change. To give us these prerogatives, an additional act to the founding treaty of ECOWAS was signed
by heads of state. This additional act has therefore enabled an in-depth reform of our Parliament: thus,
from an extraordinary session which was held for five (05) days a year, we went to seven (07) days twice
the year. In addition, we now have a MP training and refresher session that lasts three
(03) days. Ordinary sessions, which lasted only 15 days each, are now spread over 21 days at 1
month each. The 2nd, like the one currently being held, deals with the examination, amendment and adoption of the
Community budget to empower its agencies and specialized institutions. To decide
of this in all objectivity, we inquire, thanks to periodic information and control missions,
the relevance of the programs of these agencies and institutions and the effectiveness of their implementation.
We have also initiated an annual forum on issues that impact the life of the community. They
relate to security, migration, right of establishment, currency, etc. Note also the meetings
relocated permanent commissions and border visits to immerse ourselves in the realities of the
free movement of persons and goods. In short, we have multiplied the activities of Parliament by three
(03). We have also strengthened our communication system because, during the three legislatures
Previously, Parliament was not known to the general public, even in ECOWAS member countries.
To overcome this, we are now inviting more journalists to our sessions so that they can report
what we do there. We hope then that the Community Parliament will be better known in
regional space, in Africa, and outside the continent. This also involves strengthening diplomacy
parliamentarian for more visibility of its actions.
Our action has also been directed towards strengthening good governance at the level of Parliament, we
striving to reduce its expenses or, at the very least, to maximize its efficiency.
About the free movement of people and goods which, it seems to us, is the first factor of integration
economies and peoples, you called, at the opening of the session, for a reopening of
Nigeria's land borders, closed since mid-August 2019 between this country and Benin. What does the
ECOWAS Parliament to support this appeal, especially since the subject has been widely discussed in the
debates following the presentations of the reports - countries of Benin, Niger and Nigeria?
Parliament does indeed have a role to play as the representation of the people. We will play our
role in alerting on violations of the founding Treaty of the Community, particularly in its provisions
relating to the free movement of persons and goods. We reiterate our call for respect for this
essential provision for good neighborliness and regional integration. We are convinced that
our call will be heard by everyone. We cannot do more. Heads of State to seize the
question. That they meet, consult each other to see how to avoid that the situation calls into question the objective
first of ECOWAS. We need to strengthen the regional integration process to be strong together in
a globalized world. In this logic, we have, at the level of the African Union, launched the Zone of
free trade, and ECOWAS is thinking of creating a single currency by 2020. That's a good thing. Why then
slow down the process with decisions of the kind we are talking about?
On security issues, you announced that you will be going to Mali during this session. It will be
your third visit to this country during your tenure. What new message do you have to deliver?
to the Malian authorities and populations in order to help restore peace in the country?
We believe that the people of Mali must further strengthen their unity in the face of the seriousness of the threat
on the country. Beyond Mali, Burkina, Niger and Nigeria are also threatened. Important countries of the
region are therefore plagued by insecurity. We must be fully aware that this handicaps our
development, our integration process and we must give ourselves the means to do so courageously
face instead of hiding behind reductive and selfish political intentions or ambitions by forgetting
the misery experienced by our people. Parliament for its part is also committed to playing, in this management
security, its role of alerting the authorities and also the populations. We were in Gao a few years ago
in this direction. We were also a few months ago in Mopti where we discussed with the populations, the
Peuls and the Dogons in particular, issues that divide them in order to make them aware of the imperative of
live together. We intend to return to Mali to deliver this same message of unity to the populations, to the
politicians, in particular to opposition parties, to civil society, to associations for the defense of the rights of
humans and governmental authorities. In short, we want to play mediator so that a dialogue
national productive is established in Mali with the hope that this will bring harmony and mark the way back to the
peace in the country.

You mentioned the creation of the common currency of ECOWAS as a means of accelerating integration
regional. Two months before the 2020 deadline, chosen for the effectiveness of this currency, has Parliament been
seized of the implementation of this project? In other words, do you believe that the ECO will be created in 2020?
(Sigh) I couldn't say. Monetary issues are very complicated especially when it comes to putting
coherently the economies of countries that do not have the same currency. You know that in the ECOWAS region
more than eight currencies are in circulation. We must continue to reflect and discuss to find out whether
is appropriate to launch the ECO from 2020, with whom and with what guarantees of success. These are questions
very serious questions which must be left to the experts and the Heads of State of the Community. We, at the level of
Parliament, we can only welcome the existence of the project and encourage the initiatives which contribute to its
Implementation. We are for this single currency which will, I am sure, help us to compete with the
other blocks or countries that participate in the globalization of the world economy. Beyond the ECO, it is even necessary
aim in the long term for the creation of a common African currency which will give more strength to the CFTA by
construction.
Next February, at the same time as the 4th legislature, your mandate as President of Parliament
community ends. Broadly, what recommendations can you make to your
successor so that the institution is even more effective in pursuing its objectives?
To be successful in managing any structure, there must first be fairness. It is important. Regarding
the specific case of the ECOWAS Parliament, it is necessary to be well armed with leadership and to work on the basis of the
fundamental texts. There are three: the founding treaty of ECOWAS, the additional act signed by the Heads of State
in December 2016 and the institution's rules of procedure. Here are the basic texts. If they are not
respected, because the first responsible people allow themselves to get involved in schemes of bad
management of people and finances, they will encounter problems. The first leaders of our
Parliament must always
show integrity to resist various temptations and arm oneself with courage to face difficulties
What would the enemies of transparency, good management and progress towards integration create?
regional. I have personally suffered from these obstacles, which is why I am talking about them. But we succeeded
that we have succeeded by being fair in the management of men and finances in order to be able to move forward.
What are your greatest satisfaction and, conversely, your greatest disappointment?
I have nothing to regret. As I said earlier, I inherited a Parliament that was only nominal. What justifies
the reforms we have initiated, and thanks to the ECOWAS Commission and the support of Heads of State,
we have made great progress in anchoring the Parliament among the strong institutions of ECOWAS with
acquired prerogatives. Furthermore, the institution's budget, which was barely 15 million Units of Account
(UA), was increased to nearly UA 21 million. The increase in the budget has enabled us to multiply our activities and
to take more initiatives for the well-being of populations. Today we are very satisfied, because we
we have a Parliament in tune with the ambitions of the Heads of State to accelerate the integration process
regional. The deputies who sit there are more motivated in their work. It will be even more
years to come when they will be remunerated monthly with a fixed allowance because the project that
we initiated in this direction was approved by the Commission and the Heads of State last June. We hope
to be able to continue to follow this good development of our Community Parliament without being its president.
It is in this logic that at each session, I invite former parliamentarians so that, under the light of their
experience, we continued to move forward.
When he hands over, what follow-up does Moustapha Cissé Lo intend to give to his political career?
The rest of my political career will be that of a fighter alongside President Macky Sall. I do not count
to retire from politics at 65. In this regard, I warmly thank the Senegalese Head of State for
trusting me to propose myself to the presidency of the ECOWAS Parliament in 2016. I have done my
better with his companion to continue to deserve this trust. He was re-elected president of the
Republic for 5 years. I remain by his side, faithful to his vision for the development of Senegal, the countries of the
ECOWAS and all of Africa.
We are at the end of this interview. What would you have wanted to say that our questions did not get to you
allowed to say?
I invite ECOWAS MPs to take their mission more seriously. This should translate into more
attendance at work. Their countries do not mandate them to come and sleep in hotels. I urge them to more
of commitment, to more community for parliamentary work commensurate with the ambitions of the Heads of State to build a well-integrated West African region and meet the expectations of the populations for more
prosperity. This is essential for ECOWAS to be able to position itself well against other blocs or
economic groups around the world.
Africa has everything to succeed in its development. It has arable land, working people,
competent managers, etc. The sub-region must remain united, Africa must remain standing. MPs must
assume their missions to consolidate this. I urge the Heads of State to give them the legislative prerogatives
in this direction. We must be able to legislate in areas such as security,
communication, human rights, elections, for example, to uniformly limit terms of office
presidential elections in the countries of the ECOWAS region. We would then avoid the frictions to tinker with the
Constitutions here or there. We need stability, unity and harmony for our region.
Thank you.
Interview in Abuja by
Zephirin Kpoda
Box 1
The administration, the discreet but solid framework that holds the building upright
A must-have suit and tie, K.Bertin Somé has the dressing code of the perfect needy technocrat for whom only the
result of their actions bears witness to their effectiveness.
Arrived at the ECOWAS Parliament as a parliamentary assistant in 2009, he is now the director of
Parliamentary Affairs and Research. The 15-year experience he had acquired in Burkina in the firm
the President of the Assembly of People's Deputies (ADP) under Bongnessan A. Yé then under Mélégué Traoré,
under the 2nd legislature, and also under the Presidency of Roch Marc Christian Kaboré during the 3rd legislature
the Fourth Republic where he served as Director General of Legislative Services, no doubt had something to do with it.
thing.
This graduate of the former Higher School of Law (ESD) and the National School of Administration and
magistracy (ENAM) is a workaholic. An early bird and a night owl who, under the orders of the secretary
General of Parliament, the Ghanaian John Azumah, and with the support of the Director of Administrative Affairs and
financial institutions, the Gambian Anna Jagne, is in the oven and in the mill for the Community Parliament to live and
that its ordinary and extraordinary sessions are held according to the rules.
K. Bertin Somé made it his duty to tell us about the work of professionals and support staff,
a real discreet framework thanks to which the institution of the Community Parliament stands up. From the secretary
general to the last liaison officer, the administrative wing of the ECOWAS Parliament has 50 Nigerians, 5
Beninese, 3 Burkinabè, 3 Ivorians, 4 Nigeriens, 3 Gambians, 4 Senegalese, 1 Bissau-Guinean, 5 Ghanaians, 1
Guinean, 3 Malians, 1 Sierra Leonean and 1 Togolese. We are recruited there, never named, by competition open to all
candidates from member countries, aged 50 or less. Candidates selected by the selection committee
take an oral interview test and, if successful, probation for 1 year before being finalized
integrated.
With the additional act of December 2016 which increases the prerogatives of Parliament and therefore its
activities, the administration is seeing its workload multiply, particularly at the level of the 4 Business Divisions
parliamentarians and research. And Mr. Somé then launched a cry from the heart for a strengthening of
personnel administration, particularly at the level of the division in charge of minutes after a freeze on
recruitments that lasted 10 years.
ZK
Box 2
“Our deputies do not make up the numbers”
(Queen Bertille K. Sakandé, head of the Burkinabè delegation)
The only woman among the 6 Burkinabè deputies in this 4th legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament, Ms. Sakandé
is also the head of delegation.

Like most of her colleagues, she was diligent at this last ordinary session of the
legislature, valiantly defending Burkina's country report, which focused on the security problems
the country.
This report, she said, highlighted the government's efforts to fight terrorism and take into
care for the internally displaced. The report also underlined, according to her, the support of partners such as France
and the G5 Sahel in the war effort and the economic consequences it induces, in particular the essential
budgetary effort to support the Defense and Security Forces.
At the political level, the Burkina report, still according to Ms. Sakandé, could not ignore the
inclusive political dialogue initiated by the Head of State and the resounding success it has had. The report therefore emphasized
on the consensus that emerged within the political class on the main points that were discussed and
on the recommendations resulting from this dialogue.
Concerning the status of the implementation of community texts, Ms Sakandé indicated that Burkina has
ratified 52 of the 54 texts of ECOWAS protocols and conventions, thus demonstrating its desire to work towards
regional integration. This desire is also evident, in Ms Sakandé's opinion, in the implementation
Community programs and projects, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and transport.
Regarding the stormy and passionate nature of the debates that we were able to observe in the hemicycle,
our interlocutor considers that it is not particular to this session and explains it by the desire of each delegation
not to make up the numbers during parliamentary sessions. In this regard, elected representatives from Burkina Faso are not
in rest, if we are to believe what she says. On the contrary, they would be among those who hold the spittoon the most,
and the relevance of their interventions would have earned them the congratulations of the President of the ECOWAS Parliament
during his visit to the Burkinabe Parliament.