The Senegalese academic and independent expert of the United Nations and human rights activist, Alioune Tine said in an interview with the Senegalese news agency APS that the member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) must “rethink” this organisation in order to make it more effective.
He believes that ECOWAS should not remain an instrument for the exclusive use of Heads of State, insisting on the need to have an executive commission of ECOWAS that can have independence, in order to respond effectively to the crises to be resolved.
Alioune Tine also said that “States are turning in on themselves by raising the issue of sovereignty to try to stop ECOWAS or to weaken some of its bodies”.
He said it is not normal that members of parliament have no influence on ECOWAS and cannot even control its budget.
For this human rights activist, with experience in the management of crises related to ECOWAS, he believes that the lack of effectiveness of this regional organisation results from the exorbitant powers of its member states and suffers from the crises of democracy.