ECOWAS AND THE COUP IN NIGER
Democracy in the subregion is increasingly being threatened. The authorities must stem the ominous trend
while the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU) have made the usual statements, the military usurpers in Niger Republic are digging in and consolidating powers. Yet, the reasons for the latest coup by soldiers who seized control in the country last Wednesday morning sound all too familiar. They range from insecurity to worsening social and economic conditions. While President Mohamed Bazoum remains in captivity, head of the presidential guard, General Abdourahmane Tchiani has declared himself the new leader of the country.
It is noteworthy that the putsch in Niger Republic is coming on the heels of similar military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Chad, and Sudan. Except perhaps in Sudan where the coup resulted from long standing internal political quarrels, deteriorating economic and security situation has become a standard excuse for the military takeover in these West African countries. The more frightening feature of these recent political disruptions is the recurrence of Jihadist insurgency in the Sahel and the instability that could easily be exploited by ambitious soldiers. This is what should concern authorities within the ECOWAS now being led by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu.
For us in Nigeria, the embarrassing development in the neighbouring Niger Republic should send a signal. The Nigerian condition is not different from that of Niger, Mali, Guinea, Chad, and Burkina Faso, where insurgencies have caused severe economic hardship by constricting agricultural land space and forcing population movements and severe humanitarian crises. These have been exacerbated by climate change and the southward expansion of the Sahara Desert. Perhaps a more disturbing feature of the recent coups is that in most African countries, democracy remains so fragile that the people do not put up any fight when these military opportunists seize power.
In Niamey, for instance, there were jubilant crowds on the streets in support of the coup. Some attacked the headquarters of the ousted president’s party, setting it on fire while stoning and burning cars outside. Hundreds of people also gathered outside the National Assembly with some waving Russian flags, while others held up hand-written signs saying: “Down with France” and “Foreign bases out”. It is recalled that the crowds which trooped out in Ouagadougou to welcome the coupists in Burkina Faso last year also carried Russian flags and placards denouncing France.
We do not know whether any foreign interest was involved in the Niger coup but as we stated recently, the infiltration of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group in Africa remains a threat to fragile democracies. This is why authorities in our country must pay attention to what is happening in neighbouring countries. With violent banditry in the Northwest combining with a never-ending insurgency in the Northeast, the federal government must be very concerned about these recent coup destinations, especially at a period we are involving the military extensively and for too long in internal security operations. We must guard against the mistakes of commission that could tempt dark thoughts from an ugly past.
ECOWAS now under the chairmanship of President Tinubu is even more severely tasked by these coups, especially since defiance of regional diplomatic sanctions has become routine. The international community must maintain the resolve to stifle the military junta in Niger Republic out of power with a combination of economic sanctions and political/diplomatic arm-twisting. Following his election as ECOWAS chairman two weeks ago, Tinubu urged his colleagues to “stand firm on democracy,” declaring that, “We will not accept coup after coup in West Africa again. Democracy is very difficult to manage, but it is the best form of government.” Today in Abuja, he will host a special meeting of the regional leaders.
As they seek a solution to the logjam in Niger, what President Tinubu and other leaders within the subregion must understand is that even the very unity and integrity of ECOWAS is threatened by these rampant coups.
