Bissau: CEDEAO soma e segue

ECOWAS defence chiefs to meet in Abuja Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - West African defence chiefs are due to meet in Nigeria's capital city of Abuja Monday to consider modalities for the deployment of troops to Guinea Bissau and Mali, two members states where soldiers have toppled elected governments in recent times. An ECOWAS Commission statement made available to PANA here Friday said the one-day meeting, to be held under the aegis of the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS), is in continuation of preparations for the deployment of ECOWAS Mission to both countries as mandated by the region's leaders at their summit in Dakar, Senegal, 3 May. Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS member states, the heads of the gendarmerie and police forces from Burkina Faso and Nigeria whose troops will be deployed in Guinea Bissau, the Special Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Guinea Bissau and the Force Commander of the ECOWAS Mission to Guinea Bissau (ECOMIB) will attend the meeting. They will be updated on the logistic preparations to support the deployments, preparations for the deployment in Guinea Bissau as well as on the situation in Mali, following the overthrow of the government of democratically-elected President Amadou Toumani Toure in the coup of 22 March. The meeting will also be briefed on the current status of the separatist rebellion in the north of Mali. The defence chiefs will specifically consider issues relating to force generation for ECOWAS Mission to Mali and the units proposed for the reconstituted force of 3,000 troops. In addition, the Force Commander of ECOMIB will make various presentations to the committee on the force. Since the meeting will coincide with the military equipment exhibition organized by the Nigeria Armed Forces, the defence chiefs will participate in the show which will take place in the northern city of Kaduna Tuesday. -0- PANA 11May2012