Nation Chairs Ecowas Committee on Host Agreements

Concord Times (Freetown)

Abdul Karim Koroma

30 March 2011

Addis Ababa — Sierra Leone’s envoy to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has scored another landmark success on behalf of the government of President Ernest Bai Koroma during the monthly group meeting of ECOWAS Ambassadors that deliberated on ECOWAS countries that should form the composition of the African Union Commission’s (AUC) sub-committees of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC).

Because of Ambassador Andrew Bangali’s vast intellectual capacity in international diplomacy and world politics plus his long standing experience as a distinguished career diplomat cum inter-governmental player, Sierra Leone was appointed member of the following PRC sub-committees: Sub-Committee on Contributions, Sub-Committee on Economic and Trade Matters, Sub-Committee on Multilateral Cooperation. The country was also chosen to chair the Sub-Committee on Headquarters and Host Agreements as well as serving as 3rd vice chair of the Ministerial Committee on Candidatures.

Membership of the following three sub-committees is open to all member states of the African Union: Sub-Committee on Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, Sub-Committee on Programmes and Conferences, and the Advisory Sub-Committee on Administrative, Budgetary and Financial Matters.

Out of the 11 PRC sub-committees, Sierra Leone is a member of five. Ever since Sierra Leone became a member of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) now AU, it is only now that the country has gained such a prominence within the organization.

Despite repeated objections by Ambassador Bangali that the work load would be heavy on the part of his office, the Ghanaian, Guinean, Gambian, Togolese and Senegalese delegations prevailed on him to reconsider serving on the committees because his expertise will be of immense importance for their proper functioning.

He later accepted whole heartedly to serve in all the committees.

Earlier, Burkinabe emissary to Ethiopia and Dean of the ECOWAS Ambassadors, His Excellency Bruno Zidouemba welcomed the Republics of Niger and Guinea back to the AU and the ECOWAS authority after their suspensions were lifted by the two organizations.

He said the meeting would also serve as a forum to maintain peace and unity within the regional bloc.

Mrs. Juliana Hawa Fallah and Christopher Bockarie – First and Second Secretaries respectively of the Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Addis Ababa – were also in attendance at the meeting.

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