Mauritania to make ECOWAS comeback

afrol News, 17 August - Mauritania is few miles away from making a comeback in the regional economic block, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the desert country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mohamed Saleck Ould Mohamed Lemine, spills the beans.

The Arab-Maghreb Union [that was bent on promoting the superiority of minority Arabs in Africa] finally succeeded in convincing Mauritania to pull out of ECOWAS in 1999. Mauritania is so far the only country that does not enjoy membership in the regional economic bloc.

But after a working session with the Chairman of the ECOWAS Commission, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Mauritanian officials are more than convinced that the country has missed a lot of benefits for pulling out of the regional body.

Mauritanian officials have now shown their commitment to restore cooperation with ECOWAS, which obviously enables the country to tap existing trade benefits, especially the Cotonou Agreement, a 20-year trade package signed between the European Community, its member states and 77 countries of African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP). The package was signed on 23 June 2000.

The agreement serves as a platform of integration in world trade as well as gave birth to the creation of Economic Partnership Agreements between the EU and the ACP countries.

Mr Chambas’ visit was seen as epitomising the wishes of both Mauritanian government and the ECOWAS, which is to promote a privileged partnership under EU-ACP negotiations through the Cotonou Agreement.

The overthrow of the dictatorial regime of Sid Ahmed Taya ushered in democracy in Mauritania. The military embarked on a 19-month transition during which the country was prepared for democracy.

In march this year, Mauritanians took part in what was seen as free, fair and transparent elections, the first in over 40 years. The new government is also moving fast to cure the many injustices in the country. One such was to outlaw slaver and punish all those who promote or practice the century old culture.

By staff writer

© afrol News

good news for the economi block. id liek to seem them align with the non french speaking countries in africa to diminish the french's role in that region

Good news. The landmass and oil is a welcomed addition to ECOWAS.

Who cares? Let them go back to where they were.

Well I hope black African leaders put pressure on them to stop the enslavement and marginalisation of their black populations.

Eh, who cares? They are better off sucking the Saudis like they are right now.

Well I hope black African leaders put pressure on them to stop the enslavement and marginalisation of their black populations.

exactly, In my view mauritania is more than welcome since I think in the long run they will have to adapt to the rest of ecowas. If they turn the other way blacks might have to endure these hardships for longer. I've heard that slavery has more or less come to a complete stop after the resent elections. (first democratic since independence)

We should start focuses on what's in black Africa's interests.

^^ and what is that?

^^ and what is that?

Exactly what it says, our interests.

Well then, what are our interests and how are they different from the Arab world?

There is no doubt that slavery of black people is still rampant in Mauritania, and that's really disgusting. I think Mauritania needs to be told in harsher words that slavery of blacks has to stop and arab supremacist can in no way be tolerated.

900 million people stemming from thousands of different languages, ethnicities and cultural differences will never be able to unite under one banner of interest. Its human nature that thousands of different ethnicities, nationalities and language barriers all have their own self interests in place. Someone's skin color is far of broad and irrelevent factor.

900 million people stemming from thousands of different languages, ethnicities and cultural differences will never be able to unite under one banner of interest. Its human nature that thousands of different ethnicities, nationalities and language barriers all have their own self interests in place. Someone's skin color is far of broad and irrelevent factor.

you mean like the united states? that may not be a perfect model but it can work. europe is also creating a system that handles their diversity

Well then, what are our interests and how are they different from the Arab world?

a generalistic view of the arab world (well those in north africa anyway) seek alignment with the west or the mid east. they also seek further entrenchment of islam, even over socio-economic development.

you mean like the united states? that may not be a perfect model but it can work. europe is also creating a system that handles their diversity

The United States is a single nation, with more or less a shared language and American culture. Completely different from Africa.

If you look at the European Union their is plenty of disagreements, all you have to do is look at the failure of establishing a E.U constitution. Or the further expansion of the E.U.

Another ridiculous example would be that all white people unite under pretext of shared interests. As if Russia and Poland share the same interests.

a generalistic view of the arab world (well those in north africa anyway) seek alignment with the west or the mid east. they also seek further entrenchment of islam, even over socio-economic development.

Hmmm....sounds like Black African Somalia.