Rebels must not be given sanctuary - Retired army officer

Maj-Gen John P. Addah (RTD), a former Deputy Commander of ECOMOG in Liberia, on Sunday said it was imperative for parliaments in West Africa to put pressure on their governments to deny sanctuary and assistance to rebels who launch attacks against their neighbours.

He was addressing the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Interior and Defence on the Topic, "ECOMOG experience in conflict management in West Africa", at a seminar on "operationalizing the ECOWAS Protocol relating to the mechanisms for conflict prevention, management, resolution, peace-keeping and security," in Ho.

In attendance were some senior officers of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), the academia and the Ministry of Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation. The seminar was sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES).

Maj-Gen Addah said those who had axes to grind with their governments must do so within their own countries and not to be allowed to export their internal problems to their neighbours.

"These things can backfire", he warned.

He said notwithstanding the complex challenges, ECOMOG accomplished the task given to it creditably in Liberia to the admiration of the international community.

Maj-Gen Addah said that showed the military capability in West Africa to deal with conflicts and maintain peace, but lacked the logistics support to deal with protracted conflicts.

The participants recommended to member countries of ECOWAS to ratify the protocol as early as possible to enable it to become operational without delay. They also called for intensive public education on the protocol.

Member countries of ECOWAS were also asked to establish national Commissions on small arms control and to give the West African Court of Justice the mandate to deal with human rights abuses during conflicts in the sub-region.

They called for a foreign policy on peacekeeping and the status of force agreement between Ghana and countries involved in peacekeeping operations.

They also recommended the training and involvement of the media in the coverage of peacekeeping operations in view of the great influence their reports could have on the troops and the citizenry back home.