The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has honoured the Commanders of ECOWAS Monitoring Group, otherwise known as ECOMOG, for restoring peace and unity in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau.
The commission also honoured two Nigerian journalists, who were killed in Liberia by forces loyal to Charles Taylor. Liberia was engulfed in war between 1990 and 1997. Sierra Leone went on fire between 1997 and 2000.
Guinea Bissau had its share in 1999.
The award is coming over two decades after peace had been restored in the three countries.
They were honoured yesterday in Abuja at the unveiling of the book: ‘Fighting bushfires: ECOWAS and peacemaking in West Africa – The experience and learning curves’.
The book, which was a documentation of events of the wars in the three countries, was put together by Prof. Amadu Sesay.
Those honoured were: Lt. Gen. Arnold Quainoo, Maj. Gen. Tunji Olurin, Maj. Gen. Joshua N. Dogonyaro, Maj. Gen. Rufus M. Kupolati, Maj. Gen. J. Ishaya Bakut, Maj. Gen. John Shagaya, Maj. Gen. John Mark Inienger, Maj. Gen. Victor Samuel Leonard Malu, Maj. Gen. Timothy M. Shelpidi, Maj. Gen. Felix Agho Mujakperuo, Brig-Gen Lamin Mangasouba, Gen. Cheick Oumar Diarra, Gen. Seth Obeng and Brig-Gen Maxwell Khobe
The two Nigerian journalists were Kreed Imodibie of Guardian Newspaper and Tayo Awotusin of the Champion Newspaper.
Also honoured is the veteran freelance journalist, Lindsay Barret and Ben Asante of Ghana.
They were given the Symbolic Peace of the Rose Award.
Speaking at the occasion, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, disclosed that he lost ten of his course mates from the Nigerian Defence Academy to the Liberia war.
He, therefore, said to ensure that such sacrifices and others are not allowed to be in vain, the region and the continent at large should unite and not allow Africa to fall in war again.
He said: ‘And I can tell you, I finished from Nigerian Defence Academy 1991. And that’s when we started going to Liberia.
‘I lost 10 of my coursemates in Liberia. Ten of them. One of them particularly from Akwa Ibom, but then Cross River, finished his course, came back to the barracks, and the barracks was empty because his seniors had all moved to Liberia.
And so he said, ‘What am I doing here when everybody is there fighting?’
And they said, ‘No, you are young officers, stay here.’ He said, ‘No, I can’t be here when those guys are fighting.’
‘And he left. A year later he was killed.
‘Those are the sacrifices that have been made, and that will continue to be made. And I want us to really have to understand that a lot of people are putting in their lives for us to survive, for us to live.’
He added: ‘And so what we owe them is to make sure that we unite, and not allow Africa to fall.
‘Other than that, they will not achieve what they died for.’
Gen Musa also expressed happiness that ECOWAS has remained the symbol of unity in Africa. ‘And like a typical example to others that things can be done differently. And standing here, I’m really quite privileged and honoured.’
He also countered the narratives about the roles played by the foreign powers in the wars, especially in Sierra Leone where they were credited to have restored peace.
According to him, the story was far from the truth. He said ECOMOG and not any foreign power restored peace in Liberia and Sierra.
He said: ‘If you go to the internet, you see their story that they were the ones that liberated Sierra Leone and Liberia. And so when I watched that video, I asked: ‘Where did you write it?’ You don’t have an analytical reference.’
He, therefore, commended the ECOWAS Commission for the book, saying: ‘So, this is where it is very important that we have something and we must write the story of our region, otherwise others will write it. And which is very, very critical to all of us.
‘These publications are important because they do more than record history. They provide opportunities for us to reflect on what we have done, what worked, where our intentions are and how we can be better.
‘Nobody ever imagined ECOWAS was going to succeed. Nobody. But even without the experience and everything, we went in, fought through, and we were able to come out successfully.
‘For an organisation that has carried the major responsibility for peace and security in West Africa, this institutional memory is extremely valuable.’
Speaking on the need for peace in the subregion, Musa said: ‘Nigeria has always understood that the security of our country is closely connected to the stability of our neighbours.’
This, he said, explained why Nigeria has consistently contributed troops, resources, and political support to the community’s efforts to prevent and manage conflict in the region.
‘We have done so because we recognise that instability does not respect borders. When conflict persists in one country, its effects can be felt through displaced populations, disrupted trade, organised crime, and other forms of insecurity across neighbouring states. And I’m sure we can attest to that with what’s happening in Sahel, affecting West Africa.
‘The experiences captured in this publication also remind us that military force, while sometimes necessary, is only one part of the response to insecurity. And we have said it over and over, especially in Nigeria, that the kinetic and non-kinetic must go hand in hand. The kinetic is just about 30% of the solution, 70% rests with non-kinetic.’
He also added ‘The experience of The Gambia, for example, demonstrates what can be achieved when regional diplomacy, collective resolve, and a clear commitment to constitutional order come together.
‘At the same time, the experience of Mali reminds us of the importance of honest reflection. We must be willing to examine our responses to crises, identify where we fell short, and ensure that those lessons inform future decisions.
‘This is not about assigning blame. It is about building a stronger and more effective community.
‘These reflections are particularly relevant as ECOWAS marks its 50th anniversary.
’50 years of regional cooperation is a significant achievement, but it should also be an opportunity to look ahead.’
He noted that peace and security remain essential to that vision of ECOWAS founding fathers.
‘As we go forward, we must, therefore, strengthen our ability to prevent conflicts before they escalate, respond effectively when crises occur, and support countries in rebuilding peace and constitutional stability,’ he stated.
He also warned that on no account should an army allow asymmetric warfare to take root in their country, because it’s a very difficult situation.
He stressed: ‘In the past, conventional warfare was between states. Asymmetric warfare is within. The enemy is within, and that makes it very, very difficult to deal with.
‘So, it’s important for countries not facing it, please don’t allow it to take root. Nip it in the bud as quickly as possible. And they have steps to do that.’