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Economic Community of West African States
A/SP3/5/81 Protocol Relating to Mutual Assistance on Defence
- Published in official journal 3 on 1 June 1981
- Not commenced
- [This is the version of this document as it was at 29 May 1981 to 31 May 1981.]
Chapter I
Definitions
Article 1
Within the context of this Protocol,"Treaty" means the Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States;"Community" means the Economic Community of West African States;"Authority" means the Authority of Heads of State and Government as defined in Article 5 of the Treaty;"Member State" or "Member States" means a Member State or Member States of the Community;"Executive Secretary" means Executive Secretary of the Community as defined in Article 8 of the Treaty;"Aggression " means the use of armed force, by any State against the sovereignty and territorial integrity or political independence of another State or by any other manner incompatible with the Charter of the United Nations and OAU;"Assistance on Defence" means all military aid (material, technical and personnel).Chapter II
Objectives
Article 2
Member States declare and accept that any armed threat or aggression directed against any Member State shall constitute a threat or aggression against the entire CommunityArticle 3
Member States resolve to give mutual aid and assistance for defence against any armed threat or aggression.Article 4
Member States shall also take appropriate measures such as specified in Articles 17 and 18 of the present Protocol in the following circumstances:Chapter III
Institutions
Article 5
The institutions for the implementation of this Protocol shall be:The AuthorityThe Defence CouncilThe Defence CommissionI. The Authority
Article 6
II. The Defence Council
Article 7
Article 8
Article 9
In case of armed intervention, the Defence Council assisted by the Defence Com missis on shall supervise with the authority of the State or States Concerned, all measures to be taken by the Force Commander and ensure that all necessary means for the intervention are made available to him. The actions of the Force Commander shall be subject to competent political authority of the Member State or States concerned.Article 10
At the end of the operation, the Defence Council shall write a factual report to be addressed to the Authority.III. The Defence Commission
Article 11
Chapter IV
Administration
Article 12
Chapter V
Modalities of intervention and assistance
Article 13
Article 14
The Allied Armed Forces of the Community shall be under the command of the Forces Commander appointed by the Authority on the proposal of the defence Council. He shall be entrusted with powers that are conferred upon him by the Authority.He together with tne Chief of Defence staff of the assisted country, shall be the joint Chief of Defence Staff of the Allied Armed Forces and shall be responsible for the implementation of armed intervention and assistance as decided by the Authority. He shall have at his disposal all necessary means of defence.Article 15
Article 16
When an external armed threat or aggression is directed against a Member State of the Community, the Head of State of that country shall send a written request for assistance to the current Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS, with copies to other Members. This request shall mean that the Authority is duly notified and that the A.A.F.C. are placed under a state of emergency. The Authority shall decide in accordance with the emergency procedure as stipulated in Article 6 above.Article 17
Article 18
Chapter VI
Special provisions
Article 19
The implementation of this Protocol shall be supplemented by additional Protocols.Article 20
Chapter VII
General and final provisions
Article 21
Article 22
Article 23
Article 24
History of this document
01 June 1981
29 May 1981 this version
Consolidation