The next summit of the Economic Community of West African States will be held on December 10 in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, as announced by the President of the Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara, following his meeting with the President of the Commission of the regional organization, Omar Alieu Touray.
Ouattara explained that the meeting addressed the recent clashes in Sierra Leone, and the ECOWAS leader "deplored and condemned the situation while expressing the solidarity of the sub-regional institution with the country."
"He [Alieu Touray] appealed to the population to remain calm and reaffirmed ECOWAS' commitment to maintaining peace in Sierra Leone, stressing the Organization's readiness to assist the country if necessary," the Ivorian presidency noted.
On November 26, a group of militants attacked an arms depot near Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, as well as the Pademba Road Central Prison, prompting the government to impose a nationwide curfew.
The aftermath of the attacks resulted in about 21 deaths and nearly 2,000 prisoners escaping, according to authorities.
ECOWAS' Agenda
The last ECOWAS summit was held in early August and focused entirely on the situation in Niger following the July 26 military coup that ousted elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
In response to the coup, ECOWAS imposed punitive measures on the West African nation and halted all cooperation with it. The regional bloc also threatened to use force if the rebels do not reinstate Bazoum.
Although the regional organization's chairman and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said in early November that ECOWAS is using behind-the-scenes strategies to avoid bloodshed in the country, an official of the bloc said this week that the option of military intervention is still being considered.
"I wouldn't say we've given up the military option. We have suspended it, while waiting for the sanctions to produce results", Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, told the media on Thursday.
On September 16, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, ruled by coup leaders, formed the Alliance of Sahel States, whose charter states that any attack on one of the member states will be considered an attack on the rest of the members.