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Act No. 2015-16 July 06, 2015

Original Language Title: Loi n° 2015-16 du 06 juillet 2015

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LAW

Law n ° 2015-16 of 06 July 2015
Act No. 2015-16 of 06 July 2015 authorizing the President of the Republic to ratify Protocol A/P3/12/01 on the Fight against Corruption adopted in Dakar on 21 December 2001.



EXPOSE REASONS

Corruption may be defined as the perversion or embezzlement of a process or interaction with one or more persons for the purpose, either for the briber to have particular advantages or prerogatives, or, for the Corrupt, to obtain a reward in exchange for his kindness.

Complexe and multifaceted, corruption does not save any country; it undermines all efforts to promote harmonious development. Therefore, it must be combated everywhere. It is active when it consists of offering money or service to a person in exchange for an unfair or passive benefit if the person accepts that money or benefit.

Conscious of the pernicious effects of the phenomenon, the United Nations adopted the Universal Convention against Corruption in December 2003 in Mérida, Mexico. Previously, the Heads of State of the ECOWAS countries, meeting in Dakar on 21 December 2001, adopted Protocol A/P3/12/01 to combat corruption, with the following key objectives:

-promoting and strengthening, in each of the States Parties, the development of effective mechanisms to prevent, suppress and eradicate corruption;
-intensify and make more dynamic cooperation between the States Parties in order to make anti-corruption measures more effective;
-promote the harmonisation and coordination of national anti-corruption laws and policies.

Moreover, the Protocol constitutes an additional instrument for the Government of the Republic of Senegal in its anti-corruption policy. There is no doubt that corruption, by the considerable weighting it places on state budgets, seriously reduces the ability of states to provide basic services that are essential to the well-being of populations.

Composed of twenty-seven (27) articles, this Protocol may be amended or revised by States Parties which may also denounce it. The name shall take effect one (1) year after the deposit of the instrument of denunciation.

Any dispute arising out of the interpretation or application of this Protocol shall be settled amicably by direct agreement between the Parties. In the event of failure, the dispute shall be brought before the Court of Justice of the Community whose decision is binding and without appeal.

This Protocol shall enter into force upon the deposit of the 9th instrument of ratification in accordance with the provisions of Article 22. To date, only eight (08) countries have ratified it. Thus, the fulfilment by Senegal of this formality will allow its entry into force.

This is the economy of this Act.



The National Assembly adopted at its meeting on Thursday 25 June 2015,
The President of the Republic enacts the following legislation:

Sole Article. -The President of the Republic is authorized to ratify Protocol A/P3/12/01 on the Fight against Corruption, adopted in Dakar on 21 December 2001.


This Law shall be enforced as the law of the State.


Done at Dakar, July 6, 2015

Macky SALL.

By the President of the Republic:


The Prime Minister,
Mahammed Boun Abdallah DIONNE




PROTOCOL A/P3/12/01 ON COMBATING CORRUPTION


PREAMBLE



We, the Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS);

WHEREAS the aims and objectives of the Community are to achieve the integration of its members;

ESTABLISHED the application of the provisions of Article 5 of the revised Treaty, which requires Member States to take all necessary measures to harmonize their strategies and policies and to refrain from taking any action that may Impede the achievement of the said objectives;

RECALLING the provisions of Articles 48 and 49 of the Protocol on the Mechanism for the Prevention, Management and Resolution of Conflict, Peacekeeping and Security, which enjoin the member States of ECOWAS to eradicate corruption, Adopt measures to combat money laundering and promote transparency, accountability and good governance in their respective territories;

CONSCIENTS of the serious consequences of corruption on investment, economic growth and democracy;

PERSUADES that transparency and good governance strengthen democratic institutions;

RECOGNISING the role of states in the prevention and suppression of corruption;

CONVAINCUS that the success of the fight against corruption requires continued cooperation in criminal matters;

TO THE ESPRIT the ECOWAS Conventions on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Extradition;

NOUS FELICITY of the efforts of the United Nations, as well as the efforts of international, regional and non-governmental organizations in the fight against corruption;

CONVAINCUS of the need to adopt preventive and repressive measures to combat corruption and, in particular, to take appropriate measures against persons who commit acts of corruption in the exercise of Their public and private functions;

RESOLVED to unite our States' efforts in the fight against corruption;

AGREED WITH THE FOLLOWING:

Article 1. -Definitions

For the purposes of this Protocol:

" Public Agent " means any person designated, appointed or elected, holding public office on a permanent or temporary basis.

" Public service ", any temporary or permanent activity, remunerated or voluntary, carried out by a natural person in the name of a State or under its direction, control and authority.

The term " State " Includes national, provincial, regional, local, municipal and their services, as well as other public agencies;

" Property " means all types of tangible or intangible assets, movable or immovable, tangible or intangible, as well as legal acts or documents evidencing ownership of such assets or related duties;

" Legal persons ", any entity having this status within the framework of applicable national laws, except for States or other public entities in the exercise of public authority and public international organizations;

" Treaty ", the revised ECOWAS Treaty of 24 July 1993, which includes all the related amendments;

" Member State (s) ", Member State of the Community as defined in Article 2, paragraph 2, of the Treaty;

" Conference ", the ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State and Government established by Article 7 of the Treaty;

" Council ", the Council of Ministers of the Community established by Article 10 of this Treaty;

" Executive Secretary, the Executive Secretary appointed in accordance with the provisions of Article 18 of the Treaty;

" States Parties ", the States which have acceded to this Protocol, including ECOWAS Member States.

" Foreign public official ", any person exercising a public service in a company or public body in another Member State;

" Court of Justice of the Community ", the Court of Justice established in accordance with Articles 6 and 15 of the Treaty;

" Primary Offence " Any infringement as a result of which a product is generated, which is liable to become the subject of an offence defined in Article 6 of this Protocol.

Article 2. -Goals and Objectives

The purpose of this Protocol is:

(i) to promote and strengthen, in each of the States Parties, the development of effective mechanisms to prevent, suppress and eradicate corruption;
(ii) to intensify and make more dynamic cooperation between the States Parties in order to make more effective, measures to combat corruption;
(iii) promote the harmonization and coordination of national anti-corruption laws and policies.

Article 3. -Scope

(1) This Protocol shall apply whenever an act of corruption is committed, or has its effect in a State Party.

2. This Protocol shall apply whenever a national institutional system is unable to apply the basic preventive measures listed in Article 5 below.

Article 4. -Jurisdiction

(1) Each State Party shall adopt the measures necessary to establish its jurisdiction over offences established in accordance with Articles 6, 7 and 12 of this Protocol when:

A. The offence was committed in its territory;

B. The offence was committed by one of its nationals or by a habitual resident.

2. A State Party, in the territory of which an alleged offender is found, if it does not extradite that person for an offence to which the ECOWAS Convention on Extradition applies, on the pretext that it is one of its nationals An extradition request must be submitted, as soon as possible, to the competent authorities of the country in order for them to prosecute the offender.

3. Each State Party should consider whether its current legal competence is effective in combating the active bribery of foreign public officials and proceeding with harmonisation.

4. States Parties shall consult each other in the event of a conflict of jurisdiction in order to determine the most appropriate jurisdiction to prosecute.

Article 5. -Preventive measures

In order to achieve the objectives set out in Article 2 above, each State Party undertakes to take measures to establish and consolidate:

A) national laws, ethical guidelines, regulations and Codes of Conduct that could eradicate conflicts of interest, focus on merit-based recruitment methods, and produce measures to ensure that Reasonable levels of living;

(b) systems for the recruitment of personnel in the public service and for the acquisition of goods and services by the State in order to ensure or enhance their transparency and efficiency and their open and equitable character;

(c) the laws and other measures deemed necessary to ensure the effective and adequate protection of persons who, acting in good faith, provide information on acts of corruption;

(d) laws and regulations designed to discourage bribery of domestic and foreign public officials;

(e) the participation of civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the prevention and detection of acts of corruption;

(f) public revenue collection systems that will eliminate opportunities for corruption, as well as non-payment of tax and regulations that require businesses and organizations to keep accounts and adhere International financial control standards;

(g) measures that oblige public officials to declare their property, their debts and provide copies of their income tax returns. The income tax rules must extend at least to their spouses to their children and to their dependants. Provisions would need to be made to ensure that the information provided will not be used in an improper manner;

(h) specialized agencies responsible for combating corrupt corruption and the requisite capacity to ensure adequate training for their staff, and the financial resources required to enable them to carry out their Missions; and

(i) freedom of the press and the right to information;

J) policies to ensure that public officials do not make formal decisions related to a private company in which they have an interest.

Article 6. -Criminalization

This Protocol shall apply to the following acts:

A. The fact for a public official to request or accept, either directly or by person interposed, any object having a pecuniary value, such as a gift, promise or advantage of any kind, whether for itself or for another In return for the performance or omission of an act in the performance of his or her duties;

B. Offer or grant, either directly or indirectly, to a public official, an object of pecuniary value such as a gift, favour or advantage of any kind, either for himself or for a third party, in exchange for an act or An omission in the performance of its duties;

C. Promise, offer or give directly or indirectly any benefit to any person who declares or confirms that he or she may exercise some influence over decisions or actions of persons occupying positions in the Public or private sector, whether or not this influence has been exercised, or whether or not the intended influence has led to the desired result;

D. The fact for any person who declares or confirms that he or she may exert some influence over decisions or actions of persons occupying positions in the public or private sector, whether or not such influence is exercised and that it succeeds Or not to the desired result, to request or accept directly or indirectly any undue advantage by any person;

E. The misappropriation by a public official, of its original purpose, on its own account or the account of a third party, of all movable or immovable property, securities and values belonging to the State, an independent agency or an individual, that this public official has Received by virtue of its position and for the purposes of the Authority, for their conservation or for other reasons.

(2) Each State Party may adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to establish criminal offences in accordance with its domestic law, the acts of corruption described in this Protocol.

3. (a) The illicit enrichment consisting of a significant increase in the heritage of a public official which it cannot reasonably justify in relation to the revenues legitimately earned in the performance of its functions shall be regarded as an act Of corruption for the purposes of this Protocol by those of the States Parties which have established it as such.

(b) Any State Party which, however, has not conferred a criminal offence on illicit enrichment shall provide its assistance and cooperate with the other States in respect of that offence, as provided for in this Protocol.

4. Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish offences punishable by criminal or other nature under its domestic law, the following acts or omissions, if they Intentionally, in order to carry out, conceal or disguise the offences listed in this Protocol:

A. The creation or use of a fracture or any other document or accounting record containing false information or incomplete information.

B. Intentionally omitting to leave traces of a payment.

Each State Party shall adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences:

(a) the fact of promising to offer or give directly or indirectly any benefit to the managers or employees of a private sector enterprise for themselves or for third parties, in order for them to perform or refrain from carrying out an act in Violation of their duties;

(b) The fact for the managers or employees of a private sector enterprise to request or receive directly or indirectly from any person, any benefit that is undetermined for themselves or for third parties, in order for them to carry out or refrain from carrying out An act in violation of their duties.

Each State Party shall adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to render punishable the complicity in any criminal offence established in accordance with the provisions of this Protocol.

7. This Protocol shall also be applicable by mutual agreement between two or more States Parties, to any other act of corruption which would not be described in these provisions.

Article 7. -Laundering of proceeds of corruption and related offences

(1) Each State Party shall adopt, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, legislative or other measures necessary to confer the character of a criminal offence:

(a) (i) the conversion or transfer of property, including those who are aware that they are the proceeds of a crime, for the purpose of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of such property or of assisting any person who is involved in the commission A main offence to escape the legal consequences of its acts;

(ii) the concealment or disguise of the true nature, origin, location, disposition, movement or ownership of property of which the author knows that they are the proceeds of a crime.

(b) And, subject to the fundamental concepts of its legal system:

(i) in the acquisition, possession or use of property of which the person who acquires, owns or uses them knows, at the time of receipt, that they are the proceeds of a crime;

(ii) participation in any of the offences established in accordance with this Article or any other association, agreement, attempt or complicity in the provision of assistance, assistance or advice with a view to its commission.

2. For the purposes of applying paragraph 1 of this Article:

(a) Each State Party shall endeavour to regard as predicate offences the offences defined in articles 6, 7 and 12 of this Protocol;

(b) for the purposes of paragraph (a), predicate offences shall include offences committed within and outside the jurisdiction of the State Party in question. However, an offence committed outside the territory under the jurisdiction of a State Party shall constitute a principal offence only where the relevant act is a criminal offence under the domestic law of the State Party Applying this section if it had been committed in its territory;

(c) Where the fundamental principles of the domestic law of a State Party so require, it may be available that the offences set forth in paragraph 1 of this article shall not apply to persons who have committed the predicate offence;

(d) Knowledge, intent or motivation, as an element of an offence set out in paragraph 1 of this article, may be inferred from objective factual circumstances.

Article 8. -Protection of witnesses

(1) Each State Party shall take appropriate measures in accordance with its means to protect effectively against possible reprisals or intimidation of witnesses in judicial proceedings, and which testify in the case of the offences concerned By this Protocol and, where appropriate, to protect members of their families and other relatives.

2. The measures envisaged in paragraph 1 of this Article may include, inter alia, without prejudice to the rights of the accused, including the right to safeguard individual freedoms:

(a) the establishment of procedures for the physical protection of such persons, as necessary and feasible, their installation in another domicile and the authorization, if necessary, of the non-disclosure or limited disclosure of Information on the identity of these individuals and their location;

(b) the establishment of rules of evidence to enable the witness to testify safely, by allowing him to testify using communication techniques such as video links and other appropriate means.

States Parties shall consider entering into agreements or arrangements with other States with a view to providing a new domicile to the persons mentioned in paragraph 1 of this article.

4. The provisions of this Article shall also apply to victims insofar as they are witnesses.

Article 9. -Assistance and protection of victims

Each State Party shall take appropriate measures in its capacity to assist and protect the victims of the offences covered by the present
Protocol, particularly in cases of threat of retaliation or intimidation.

(2) Each State Party shall establish appropriate measures to enable victims of the offences covered by this Protocol to obtain redress.

Each State Party shall, in addition, within the framework of its domestic law, allow victims to present their views and concerns and that the latter be considered or taken into account in the appropriate stages of judicial proceedings Committed against the infringers in a manner that is not prejudicial to the rights of the defence.

Article 10. -Sanctions and measures

(1) Each State Party shall provide for effective and dissuasive sanctions and measures proportionate to the offence, including, where committed by natural persons, the deprivation of liberty giving rise to extradition.

(2) Each State Party shall ensure that, in the event of liability established under Article 11 below, legal persons are liable to effective, proportionate and dissuasive criminal or non-criminal sanctions, including Financial penalties.

Each State Party shall adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to enable it to confiscate the instruments and proceeds of criminal offences defined in accordance with the provisions of this Protocol, or Goods whose value corresponds to these products.

Article 11. -Liability of legal persons

1. Each State Party shall adopt measures, if necessary, in accordance with its legal principles, with a view to establishing the responsibility of the
Legal persons, for their participation in the offences defined in Articles 6, 7 and 12 of this Protocol.

2. According to the legal principles of each State Party, the liability of legal persons may be criminal, civil and administrative.

3. This responsibility shall be accepted without prejudice to the criminal liability of the natural persons who have committed the offences.

4. Each State Party shall ensure, in particular, that legal persons held liable for offences in accordance with this Article are subject to effective criminal or non-criminal penalties, dissuasive and proportionate to the offence, Such as monetary penalties, prohibition of commercial activities, the order of judicial liquidation, and placement under judicial supervision.

Article 12. -Acts of corruption concerning foreign public officials

(1) Each State Party shall prohibit and punish the offering or granting to a public official of another State, directly or indirectly, any object of pecuniary value such as gifts, promises or favours, in compensation for The performance by that agent of any act or omission in the performance of his or her duties.

States which have criminated foreign bribery for the purposes of this Protocol shall consider this act as an act of corruption, while those States which have not established such offences shall, to the extent that they Provides for the assistance and cooperation provided for in this Protocol.

Article 13. -Seizures and confiscations

Each State Party shall adopt measures, if necessary, to enable:

(a) the competent authorities to identify, locate and seize property or items subject to confiscation;

(b) confiscation of proceeds derived from offences established in accordance with the provisions of this Protocol or property whose value corresponds to that of the offences.

2. In order to implement the measures referred to in this Article, each State Party shall enable its courts to order the making available or seizure of bank, commercial or financial documents and Shall not invoke bank secrecy to refuse the assistance required by another State Party.

3. The requesting State Party shall undertake not to use the information received for purposes other than those for which it was requested.

4. In accordance with their national laws, the Treaty and other appropriate agreements, the States Parties shall provide mutual assistance in the identification and seizure of the goods or material obtained and which are drawn from the Commission or used in the Commission of offences.

5. Within the limits permitted by its legislation, a State Party, if it deems it appropriate, may transfer all or part of the goods specified in the first paragraph of this Article to another State which has lent its assistance in the Conduct of investigations or prosecutions.

Article 14. -Extradition

1. Criminal offences falling within the scope of
Of the provisions of this Protocol shall be regarded as extraditable offences, and as included in any extradition treaty in force between the parties. The Parties undertake to include these offences in any extradition treaty.

2. A State Party which receives a request for extradition from another State Party, with which it has not concluded an extradition treaty, may consider the present
Protocol as the legal basis for such extradition, if the offences fall within the scope of this Protocol.

States Parties which do not make extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty recognizing the offences established in accordance with the provisions of this Protocol as extraditable offences.

4. Extradition shall be subject to the conditions laid down in the laws of the requested State Party or by the extradition treaties in force, including the grounds upon which the State Party shall reject the extradition request.

5. If the extradition requested in accordance with this Protocol is refused on the basis of the nationality of the person being prosecuted or because the requested State considers it competent in this case, the said State shall, as soon as possible, submit the case to The competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution, except where other provisions have been agreed with the requesting party and shall inform the applicant in good time of the final result.

Article 15. -Mutual assistance and cooperation of law enforcement agencies

1. In accordance with the provisions of their national legislation and the treaties in force, the States Parties undertake to assist each other through the processing of requests from the competent authorities and to apply the measures necessary for the Facilitate the procedures and formalities relating to investigations and prosecutions of acts of corruption.

2. States Parties undertake to assist each other as far as possible in the field of cooperation of law enforcement agencies, with a view to strengthening the measures necessary to prevent, detect and punish acts of Corruption.

3. The provisions of this Protocol shall in no way affect bilateral or multilateral treaties governing mutual assistance in criminal matters. No provision of this Protocol shall be deemed to prevent a State Party from favouring the forms of mutual assistance provided for in its national legislation and in the framework of its agreements with another State Party.

4. States Parties shall consider concluding bilateral or multilateral agreements that provide, in relation to cases subject to investigation, prosecution or judicial proceedings in one or more of the States, The competent authorities concerned shall establish joint commissions of inquiry.
In the absence of such agreements or arrangements, joint investigations may be undertaken on a case-by-case basis. The States Parties involved must ensure that the sovereignty of the State Party in whose territory such an investigation is carried out is fully respected.

5. If the basic principles of its internal legal system allow it, each State Party shall take the necessary measures to enable the appropriate use of other special investigative techniques.

6. The States Parties shall conclude, if necessary, appropriate bilateral or multilateral agreements for the use of these special investigative techniques in the framework of international cooperation.

7. In the absence of an agreement or arrangement as provided for in paragraph 6 of this Article, decisions to use such special investigative techniques at the international level shall be made on a case-by-case basis and May, if necessary, take account of agreements and financial arrangements in respect of the exercise of the competence of the States Parties concerned.

8. States Parties shall not refuse mutual legal assistance on the basis of bank secrecy.

Article 16. -Central Authorities

Within the framework of cooperation and mutual assistance recommended by this Protocol, each State Party shall designate a central authority.

2. The central authorities shall be responsible for the formulation and receipt of requests for cooperation and assistance provided for in this Protocol. They can communicate directly with each other.

Article 17. -Application over time

Acts of corruption committed before the entry into force of this Protocol may, at the request of the States Parties, be subject to judicial cooperation, subject to compliance with national and international standards on extradition, And respect for the principle of non-retroactivity of the law.

Article 18. -Harmonisation of national legislation

States Parties undertake to harmonize their national laws with a view to achieving the goals and objectives of this Protocol.

Article 19. -Technical Commission

1. The States Parties undertake to establish a technical commission in accordance with the provisions of Article 22 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty, to be known as the Anti-Corruption Commission. This commission will:

(a) supervise the implementation of this Protocol at both national and regional levels;

(b) to collect and disseminate information among States Parties;

(c) regularly organize relevant training programmes;

(d) provide the States Parties with any appropriate additional assistance.

2. The technical committee will include experts from the ministries responsible for finance, justice, interior and security of the States Parties.

The Technical Committee shall meet at least two (2) times per year.

The technical committee shall establish an appropriate balance between the confidentiality and transparency of its activities, its deliberations must be carried out on the basis of consensus and cooperation between its members.

5. The meeting reports of the technical committee will be submitted to the Council of Ministers.

Article 20. -Relations with other treaties

No State Party shall be able to object to another State Party from earlier contrary provisions contained in other legal instruments.

Article 21. -Notification

In the context of the implementation of Articles 7, 13 and 18, the States Parties shall, in advance, notify their internal provisions relating to the ECOWAS Executive Secretariat, which shall in turn inform the other States Parties.

Article 22. -Ratification and entry into force

This Protocol shall enter into force upon its ratification by at least nine (9) of the States Signatories, in accordance with the constitutional rules of each signatory State.

Article 23. -Depositary Authority and Registration

This Protocol as well as all instruments of ratification and accession shall be deposited with the Executive Secretariat of ECOWAS, which shall transmit certified copies to all States Parties, and shall notify them of the dates of deposit of the Instruments of ratification and accession. The Executive Secretariat shall register this Protocol with the Organization of African Unity, the United Nations and any other organizations that the Council may determine.

Article 24. -Accession

This Protocol shall be open for accession by any other State.

Article 25. -Amendments and revision

(1) Any State Party may submit proposals for amendment or revision of this Protocol.

2. Proposals for amendment or revision shall be submitted to the Executive Secretariat, which shall communicate them to the States Parties within thirty (30) days of their receipt. The said proposals shall be considered by the Conference upon the expiration of a period of three (3) months granted to the States Parties.

3. The amendments or revisions adopted by the Conference shall be submitted to all States Parties for ratification in accordance with their respective constitutional procedures. They shall enter into force in accordance with Article 89 of the Treaty.

Article 26. -Denunciation

(1) Any State Party may denounce this Protocol. The instrument of termination shall be deposited with the Executive Secretariat. The Protocol shall cease to have effect on the States Parties which have denounced it, one (1) year after the deposit of the instrument of denunciation.

2. For a period of one (1) year, the State which has denounced this Protocol shall continue to comply with its provisions and shall continue to fulfil its obligations under this Protocol.

Article 27. -Settlement of disputes

1. Any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of this Protocol shall be settled amicably by direct agreement between the Parties.

2. In the event of a failure to settle the dispute, it shall be carried by one of the parties, by any State Party or by the Conference before the Court of Justice of the Community whose decision is binding and without appeal.

In witness whereof, we, the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of the States of West Africa, have signed this Protocol.

Done at Dakar, 21 December 2001,

In one original in English, French and Portuguese, the three (3) texts being equally authentic.

H.E. Mathieu KEREKOU
President of the Republic of Benin


H.E. Jose Maria Pereira NEVES

Prime Minister, Head of Government
Of the Republic of Cape Verde


H.E. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH
President of the Republic of the Gambia


S. E. Lamine SIDIME
Prime Minister of the Republic of Guinea


S. E. Monie R. CAPTAN
Minister of Foreign Affairs
For and by order of the President
Of the Republic of Liberia

S. E. MINDAOUDOU Aïchatou (Mme)
Minister of Foreign Affairs
For and by order of the President
Of the Republic of Niger


S. E. Blaise COMPAORE
President of the FASO
President of the Council of Ministers

S. E. Abou Drahamane SANGARE
Minister of State,
Minister of Foreign Affairs
For and by order of the President
Of the Republic of Côte d' Ivoire


H.E. Mr. John Agyekum KUFUOR
President of the Republic of Ghana

S. E. Koumba Yala Kobde NHANCA
President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau


H.E. Mr. Alpha Oumar KONARE
President of the Republic of Mali

H.E. Mr. Olusegun OBASANJO
President and Chief Commander
The Armed Forces of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria


H.E. Mr. Abdoulaye WADE
President of the Republic of Senegal

H.E. Dr. Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan KABBAH
President of the Republic of Sierra Leone

H.E. S. E. Gnassingbé EYADEMA
President of the Togolese Republic