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Former President of Sierra Leone, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma is in Dakar participating in a sub-regional dialogue on sustaining democratic principles in West Africa organised by the West African Elders Forum (WAEF).
The dialogue Forum which is taking place at the Terrou-Bi hotel, attracts states and non State actors and sub regional groups.
The former President is joined by the ECOWAS Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay and Hon. Shiaka Siama.
The Chair of WAEF, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, former President of Nigeria during his declaration of the conference opened, expressed worrying trends in the sub regions that involves coups and counter coups, constitutional changes, economic situations, peace and stability.
The two-day forum from 12th May – 13th May 2022 will provide the opportunity for former heads of state and other partners in the sub-region to review recent socio-political developments, identify challenges and offer some recommendations.
The former leaders will also be focusing on many issues affecting the growth of democracy in the sub-region including constitutional term limits, credible elections as well as the return of military coups and unconstitutional change of government.
They will also examine processes of galvanizing and harnessing sub-regional and regional responses to the socio-political challenges affecting West Africa’s democratic progress and advancement.
The Forum will discuss presentations from civil societies on challenges of West Africa’s democratic progress and advancement; drivers of the third term impulse in West Africa’s democracies; the return of military coups; short and medium term responses to unconstitutional changes of government; long term responses to the unconstitutional changes and revamping and harnessing sub- regional and continental responses to the unconstitutional changes of government.
H.E. Ernest Bai Koroma, H.E. Goodluck Jonathan will give closing remarks to these topics after discussions.
Since its inauguration last year, WAEF, an initiative of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, has continued to champion causes that promote, peace, democracy and good governance in the sub-region. Two months ago, the Forum made up of mainly former Presidents and prime ministers from the sub-region convened a strategy meeting where they shared their thoughts on the democratic trends in West Africa.
