Obasanjo calls for more cooperation with SADC

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for deeper and wider cooperation between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Obasanjo was speaking at a luncheon in the Mozambique capital, Maputo, as a special guest at the SADC summit which opened on Wednesday. In remarks carried by the South African daily, 'Business Day', he called for closer cooperation in conflict resolution, backing up previous statements in which he indicated his readiness to contribute to peacekeeping efforts in SADC.. As a first step towards tighter cooperation, he proposed institutional links between the two regional bodies. He also raised the contentious issue of freedom of movement of people within SADC as applies in West Africa. This could lead to a relaxation of controls on the movement of citizens between the two regions, he added. Obasanjo also called on SADC leaders to draft a plan outlining the areas of SADC-ECOWAS cooperation, and cited trade, manufacturing, mining, energy and communications as key areas. "Thereafter we would sign a memorandum of understanding that would cement the envisaged areas of understanding," Obasanjo said. SADC chairman, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, said he was sure measures would be taken to see how SADC nations could respond positively.