26th April, 2018
The UN and ECOWAS on Thursday called for urgent action to curb clashes that occur between farmers and cattle grazers in the region.
Representatives of both organisations, made the call at a high-level meeting on transhumance in Abuja.
They agreed that implementing existing protocols and engaging affected communities would stem the occurrence of conflicts.
UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas noted that the conflict had impacted negatively on the region’s security and economy.
Chambas urged member states to develop an effective regional approach to address the root causes of clashes between herdsmen and farmers and adopt “good practices” that have been applied to resolve such conflicts.
“These conflicts are often politicised and further fuelled by rural banditry and cattle rustling.
“Some ECOWAS countries have developed strong pastoral codes and local dispute-resolution mechanisms. There, previous tensions in the past have been resolved through dialogue and mutual arrangements.
“There is therefore good practice to draw from.”
The UN Representative further called on the media and civil society “to ensure honest reporting and communication to avoid misunderstandings and false information”.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Jean-Claude Brou charged member states to find sustainable solutions for the security of people, modernisation of animal production systems and respect for the cultural diversity.
“Notwithstanding the efforts and achievements made in interregional agriculture, we are witnessing deterioration in Pastoralism and Transhumance both within countries and between member states and neighbouring countries.
“This meeting has been convened in conjunction with ECOWAS in an effort to identify appropriate responses to address the on-going challenges and work towards a positive transformation of the sector.”
Brou further appealed to development partners to invest in the transformation and modernisation of livestock production systems in the region.
Earlier, President Muhammadu Buhari blamed the non-implementation of two ECOWAS protocols on free movement of persons, goods and services for the lingering herders and farmers conflicts in West Africa.
Represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the president stated that the protocols were necessary in the discussions to proffer lasting solution to incessant killings in the region as a result of the conflict.
“Two ECOWAS Protocols are critical to the conversation that we are going to have here today.
“The 1979 Protocols of free movement of persons, goods, capital and services and the protocol relating to transhumance in 1998.
“Regrettably, what we have been confronted with over the years is the failure to fully follow and enforce the terms of these protocol and in some cases the failure to activate sections of the protocols.
“So that where for example transhumance certificates are to be used and endorsed by medical or immigration officials this is not the case; this has to change.
“We can no longer continue to tolerate the undocumented movement of persons that simply contribute to the escalation of our security challenges.
“We must be able to track the movement; we must ensure that the protocols are complied with and relevant sections are activated,’’ he said.