Economic Community of West African States
Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peace-Keeping and Security
- Published in official journal 37 on 1 December 1999
- Commenced in full
- [This is the version of this document at 10 December 1999.]
Chapter I
Establishment, principles and objectives of the mechanism
Article 1 – Establishment
There is hereby established within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a mechanism for collective security and peace to be known as "Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peace-keeping and Security".Article 2 – Principles
Member States reaffirm their commitment to the principles contained in the Charters of the United Nations Organisation (UNO) and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, particularly the following fundamental principles:Article 3 – Objectives of the Mechanism
The objectives of the Mechanism shall be as follows:Chapter II
Institutions of the Mechanism
Article 4 – Institutions
The institutions of the Mechanism shall be:Article 5 – Composition and meetings of the Authority
Article 6 – Functions
Article 7 – Delegation of powers
Without prejudice to its wide-ranging powers as provided under Article 9 of the Treaty and in Article 6 above, the Authority hereby mandates the Mediation and Security Council to take, on its behalf, appropriate decisions for the implementation of the provisions of this Mechanism.Article 8 – Composition of the Mediation and Security Council
Article 9 – Quorum and decisions
Article 10 – Functions
Article 11 – Meetings of the Mediation and Security Council
Article 12 – Meeting at the level of Heads of State and Government
Article 13 – Meeting at the Ministerial level
Article 14 – Meeting at the Ambassadorial level
Article 15 – Role and functions of the Executive Secretary
Article 16 – The Deputy Executive Secretary
Chapter III
Supporting organs of the institutions of the Mechanism
In carrying out their missions, the Institutions stipulated in Article 4 shall be assisted by the organs enumerated in Article 17 of this Protocol.Article 17 – Organs
The following organs are hereby established to assist the Mediation and Security Council.Article 18 – Composition of the Defence and Security Commission
Article 19 – Functions
Article 20 – Composition and mandate of the Council of Elders
Article 21 – Composition of ECOMOG
The ECOWAS Cease-fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) is a structure composed of several Stand-by multipurpose modules (civilian and military) in their countries of origin and ready for immediate deployment.Article 22 – Role of ECOMOG
ECOMOG is charged, among others, with the following missions:Chapter IV
Sub-regional peace and security observation system (Early warning)
A sub-regional peace and security observation system known as the Early Warning System or "The System" is hereby established for the purposes of conflict prevention and in accordance with Article 58 of the Revised Treaty. The System shall consist of:Article 23 – Observation and Monitoring Centre
Article 24 – Observation and Monitoring Zones
Zone No | Countries | Zonal capital |
---|---|---|
1. | Cape VerdeThe GambiaGuinea-BissauMauritaniaSenegal | Banjul |
2. | Burkina FasoCote d’IvoireMaliNiger | Ouagadougou |
3. | GhanaGuineaLiberiaSierra Leone | Monrovia |
4. | BeninNigeriaTogo. | Cotonou |