The ECOWAS Parliament convened a delocalised meeting on 26 August 2024, in Banjul, The Gambia, which was officially opened by the Gambian Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta. This meeting is to advance the implementation of the ECOWAS flagship Protocol on Free Movement and its accompanying Supplementary Acts aimed at facilitating the movement of persons, right of residence, and establishment of business by Community Citizens across the region.

Speaking at the opening of the 5-day session, The Gambia’s Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment, Baboucarr Joof, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the principles of regional integration. Joof urged the ECOWAS Parliamentarians to strengthen legislative support for the protocol and to collaborate closely with national governments to overcome any obstacles to its implementation.

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, also emphasised the vital role of parliamentarians in making the protocol a reality. She called on policy-makers and stakeholders to work together to address the challenges and develop coordinated policies that maximize the benefits of free movement across the region.

“Policy-makers and all stakeholders must unify their efforts to identify challenges and propose solutions that will maximise the benefits of free movement, both at the regional and national levels. These objectives will only be achieved through the development of coordinated policies and actions,” she stated.

During the session, a presentation on the overview of the Free Movement Protocol and its Supplementary Acts was made. The ECOWAS Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration, Mr. Albert Siaw-Boateng speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs. Massandjé Toure-Litse, highlighted various factors that have impeded the implementation of the Protocol of Free Movement of persons in the region. He stressed the need for enhanced synergy by all relevant ECOWAS Institutions especially the ECOWAS Parliament and stakeholders in order to advance the implementation of the said Protocol in Member States which is pivotal for deeper regional integration and economic cooperation within the ECOWAS Space. He also mentioned the need for Member States to fully deploy the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) and also implement the abolishing of the 90-day stay as adopted by the Authority of Heads of State and Government as well as the domestication of all instruments related to Free Movement by Member States.

The ECOWAS delegation in Banjul will also engage in Townhall meetings and interactions with the Market Traders, Transport Union, Women and Youth in this regard. In addition, there would be a visit to the Amdallai, The Gambia – Karang, Senegal border.

The meeting is set to conclude on 30 August with the issuance of a communiqué outlining the key recommendations and decisions. The document will be submitted to the ECOWAS Commission and Parliament for further consideration and action.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Ian Cameron, has expressed concern that only 58% of housebreaking victims report the crime to the police, mainly because they believe that the South African Police Service (SAPS) will not do anything about it. The Chairperson was responding to Statistics South Africa’s release of the 2023/24 Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey.

“The trust deficit between the SAPS and communities is a major Achilles heel in the fight against crime. It is up to the South African Police Service to work hard, through deeds and action, to reverse this negative sentiment,” Mr Cameron said.

The Chairperson welcomed the release of the survey, as it gives a deeper analysis of the crime picture in the country. What is worrying, Mr Cameron said, was the general decline in reporting acts of crime across the board, especially sexual offences.

“The decline in reporting sexual offences from 92.3% to 78.4% should be reversed through training of police officers to adequately handle sexual-related crimes to prevent secondary victimisation. Also, the effective investigation of crimes leading to prosecution and the constant updating of victims will enhance trust between the police and victims,” Mr Cameron emphasised.

“It is extremely concerning, as SAPS is not currently equipped to really support victims and unfortunately when protection orders are not adequately enforced victims lose faith in the system,” Mr Cameron said. “Part of the budget adjustments the committee wants to propose can help address some of these shortcomings,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson underscored the serious concern that the use of illicit firearms, the weapons of choice in many criminal incidents, continues unabated. “We need more capacity within the SAPS to do destruction of firearms handed in and seized by police, as well as effective consequence management against those involved in smuggling firearms. The ease with which criminals access firearms is unacceptable,” Mr Cameron said.

The Chairperson also highlighted that it is unacceptable that people feel unsafe walking the street after dark. Statistics SA revealed that this fear is particularly pronounced among women, who reported feeling less safe walking in their neighbourhoods after dark than men. Additionally, the percentage of people who feel safe walking alone during the day fell from 86,6% in 2019/20 to 84,8% in 2020/21, continuing to decline throughout the reporting period and reaching 80,4% in 2023/24. The Chairperson called for heightened police visibility to curb this worrying trend.

Furthermore, the Chairperson encouraged communities to actively participate in community neighbourhood watches and community police forums, and to continue to be the ears and eyes of the police. “It is crucial that communities exhaust all lawful remedies to help prevent and combat crimes as we work to help adjust resources and budget of the SAPS,” Mr Cameron said.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson welcomed yesterday’s multidisciplinary operation undertaken in eThekwini where at least 123 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested. The police also recovered counterfeit US dollars equivalent to R4.1 million, seized 117 rounds of ammunition of various firearm calibres and a large amount of liquor. Also, one suspect was arrested after he was found in possession of cocaine, crystal meth and an undisclosed amount of money. Mr Cameron emphasised that these kinds of disruptive operations are necessary in the fight against crime, and he called the SAPS to intensify such operations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Omar Alieu TOURAY was in Monrovia, Liberia for a one day working visit. He was accompanied by Ambassador Abdel-Fatau MUSAH, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.

During his visit, the President of the ECOWAS Commission and his delegation met His Excellency Joseph Nyumah BOAKAI, President of the Republic of Liberia as well as other stakeholders.

Following Liberia’s credible elections in 2023, ECOWAS was in Monrovia to support Liberia’s post-election national reconciliation efforts in solidarity with the people of Liberia. Discussions had also highlighted regional security.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Minchin&Kelly (Botswana), a member of DLA Piper Africa (www.DLAPiper.com), is proud to announce its partnership with 2024 Olympic Gold medallist and Motswana sprint sensation, Letsile Tebogo. Under the partnership, Minchin&Kelly together with DLA Piper Africa will be Tebogo’s official legal sponsor, providing the 21-year old Motswana sprinter with legal services locally, regionally and globally.

Born in Kanye, Botswana, Tebogo began his track and field journey in 2019. He has since taken the athletics world by storm, winning significant titles and setting records across various track lengths in the lead up to the 2024 Summer Olympics. In Paris, he won Botswana’s first-ever Olympic gold in the men’s 200m, a first for any African national in this event. Tebogo was also part of the men’s 4 x 400m Botswana relay team that won the Olympic silver medal.

Terence Dambe, Managing Partner at Minchin&Kelly (DLA Piper Africa, Botswana) said: “Letsile has put Botswana on the map in the sprinting world, igniting a wave of pride and ambition across the entire nation. As the oldest law firm in the country, we’re passionate about helping people and businesses in Botswana achieve their ambitions – locally, regionally and globally. We are honoured to now be part of Letsile’s inspirational journey, contributing to his ongoing success by safeguarding his commercial and personal interests as a rising star, international brand and, most importantly, young athlete on the global stage.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of DLA Piper.

Contact:
Tumelo Sitayelo
Business Development&Marketing Officer
Minchin&Kelly (Botswana)
tel, +267 39 12 734  
email: tsitayelo@minchinkelly.bw

About Minchin&Kelly:
Established in 1890, Minchin&Kelly (Botswana) has served as a cornerstone of the country’s legal landscape for over a century. We remain dedicated to providing exceptional legal services to domestic clients while also being a leading provider for international businesses and investors entering the Botswana market. Our deep-rooted history in Botswana, combined with a team of highly skilled and internationally experienced lawyers, allows us to offer a unique advantage. We understand the intricacies of the local legal environment and can provide clients with practical, commercially minded solutions to complex legal challenges. Located in the heart of Gaborone’s Central Business District, Minchin&Kelly (Botswana) is perfectly positioned to serve your legal needs, both locally and on the international stage.

Minchin&Kelly (Botswana) is a member of DLA Piper Africa.

About DLA Piper Africa: 
DLA Piper Africa is a Swiss verein whose members are comprised of independent law firms in Africa working with global law firm, DLA Piper.

DLA Piper is a global law firm helping our clients achieve their goals wherever they do business. Our pursuit of innovation has transformed our delivery of legal services (http://apo-opa.co/475GkSz). With offices in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific (http://apo-opa.co/3MjYLcG), we deliver exceptional outcomes on cross-border projects, critical transactions and high-stakes disputes.

Every day we help trailblazing organisations seize business opportunities and successfully manage growth and change at speed. Through our pro bono (http://apo-opa.co/478BC6G) and sustainability (http://apo-opa.co/3AB7aWo) work, we support communities around the world and help create a more just and sustainable future. Visit DLAPiper.com to discover more.