A summit of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States held in Ndjamena over the weekend.

Member States of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States, CEN-SAD, rose from an extra-ordinary summit in the Chadian capital, Ndjamena on Saturday, February 16, 2013, appealing for help to enable Mali regain stability after the recent expulsion of rebels from northern towns by French-led troops.

Radio France Internationale, RFI reported that members also raised FCFA 500 million to support the Africa-led International Support Mission to Mali, AFISMA Force. The Community’s Chairman, President Idriss Déby Itno of Chad, expressed CEN-SAD’s gratitude to France for stepping in to save the situation in Mali. He however said it was not a comforting situation for Africa, 50 years after independence.

The summit, the first after the 2011 Libyan War, dealt mainly with issues of peace and security in the Sahel-Saharan region. Participants agreed on measures to ensure lasting peace and stability in CEN-SAD member countries. It was attended by at least 24 representatives of the 28-member organisation. Members signed a treaty to amend the basic legislation governing the Community as well as the programme of action. The newly created organs are a Permanent Sustainable Development Council to help combat poverty and a Permanent Security Council to help kick out terrorists from the Sahel and Sahara.

The presence of Sudanese leader, Omar Al Bashir who is under an International Criminal Court, ICC arrest warrant for alleged genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfour, raised some debate, BBC reported. President Al Bashir arrived in Chad on Friday, February 15, 2013 and was received upon arrival in Ndjamena by President Idriss Déby, and a number of Chadian ministers and senior officials. ICC had requested Chad to arrest Omar Al Bashir upon arrival in the country, but Chadian authorities maintained the same stance like the African Union which last year restated its opposition to the arrest warrant.

The Sahel-Saharan Community was created on February 4, 1998 in Tripoli by former Libyan leader, Col. Muammar Ghaddafi and today has 28 member States. Its objectives are to allow the establishment of a global economic union and the removal of restrictions to the integration of member States.