Niger Republic Coup: ECOWAS ADAMANT

…Falana: What Tinubu should do to end coup in West Africa

 

In an obvious message to leaders of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) who were set to convene in Abuja for the second Extraordinary Summit on his July 26 takeover of power a few hours later, the leaders of the Niger Republic military junta late Wednesday evening announced the constitution of a 21-man government for the country.

Mahamane Roufai Laouali, who was named the secretary-general of the new government, read out the names of the appointees on state television.
According to the announcement, three of the generals who were part of the coup that led to the removal of democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum were named ministers of defence, interior and sports. The coup plotters had earlier announced an economist, Mahaman Lamine Zeine, as the Prime Minister.
Thus, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS was confronted with a regime determined to strengthen its hold on power when they converged on the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
The Summit was called to determine the next line of action against the Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani-led junta that refused to obey the first resolution of ECOWAS on 26 July that it should hand over power back to  Bazoum within seven days or be taken out by a combination of military forces of the bloc.
Rather than hand over power, the regime had announced the closure of Niger Republic airspace on the expiration of the ultimatum, to the discomfiture of airlines operators who said they now have to reroute flights through vast areas to get to Nigeria.

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The regime has also not shown any sign that it will yield power to the deposed president as a result of sanctions including the cutting off of electricity supply and closure of the border imposed on it by Nigeria.
The Tchani-led junta had also refused all offers of negotiations to hand over power by the United Nations, the African Union, AU and ECOWAS.
The leaders of the junta have refused to receive envoys from the organisations even as they encourage mass rallies to prove that their takeover of power is generally accepted among their people.

No To War With Niger

President Tinubu’s delegations, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, and former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalaam Abubakar, were also unable to meet with Tchani. Tuesday’s Summit was also held against loud rejection of the suggestion by ECOWAS that the military can be deployed to force out the Niger junta by different interest groups in Nigeria.
There are concerns that such war will be a burden on Nigeria which is expected to shoulder the lion’s share of such adventure.
The calls have been louder in the Northern part of the country where at least seven states share the border with Niger. Stakeholders and interest groups in the North said waging war in Niger will exacerbate the security, insurgency and associated problems in the region. They also noted that the French-speaking country is one of the major allies of Nigeria in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.
Some leaders of Islamic groups had on Tuesday taken the anti-war campaign to Aso Rock presidential villa where they asked the President and his colleagues in ECOWAS to continue to pursue diplomatic solutions in their efforts to tackle the challenge posed by the Niger junta.
Nigeria and Niger Republic, the clerics said, “are just like two brothers. We share borders, culture, family, languages and even religion. Definitely, we have to tread with caution and solve the issue amicably,” Secretary General of Jamaatu Nasrul Islam (JNI), Professor Khalid Abubakar Aliyu told journalists after the meeting with President Tinubu on Tuesday.
Aliyu said they were invited by Tinubu to discuss their opposition to the suggestion that the military should be deployed to rout out the coup leaders in Niger. “When we intervened in Liberia, how did we get out of the mess? Look at what is happening in Libya, we should try as much as we can to avoid that scenario. Niger has all the tendencies of becoming Libya if we are not careful.”

Sanusi Breakthrough

However, ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, the push for a diplomatic solution to the crisis was boosted as it emerged that the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, was able to meet Tchiani.

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The former Emir was seen in the Aso Rock presidential villa discussing with the President a few hours after his photograph with the leader of the Niger junta went viral. “I came to brief him on the details of my discussions with leaders of Niger. We’ll continue to do our best to bring the two parties together to improve understanding.
“This is the time for public diplomacy, it’s not a matter that we leave to governments, all Nigerians, all Nigeriens need to be involved to find a solution that works for Africa, a solution that works for Niger, that works for Nigeria, and a solution that works for humanity.”

We’ll Continue To Engage Niger Junta

Thus, when the President spoke at the opening of the ECOWAS Summit on Thursday, it was obvious that the option of military intervention as a solution to the Niger coup might no longer be very attractive. Tinubu in his opening speech said the regional bloc must engage the coup leaders to reinstate President Bazoum.
“We must engage all parties involved, including the coup leaders, in earnest discussions to convince them to relinquish power and reinstate President Bazoum. It is our duty to exhaust all avenues of engagement to ensure a swift return to constitutional governance in Niger,” the Nigerian President said.
He however added that the coup in Niger has far-reaching effects on democratically constituted governments in the sub-region.
“More specifically, as leaders of our respective nations, we must recognize that the political crisis in Niger not only poses a threat to the stability of the nation but also has far-reaching implications for the entire West African region.
“By remaining steadfast in our adherence to the principles of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law, we can restore peace, stability, and prosperity in the Republic of Niger, thereby fostering an environment conducive to growth and development for all,” he said. The meeting entered a closed-door session after the remark.

Military Intervention Still An Option

However, in his closing remarks at the summit,  the Chairman of ECOWAS said no option would be taken off the table in tackling the coup leaders.
“You will see from the communiqué of this extraordinary summit that no option is taken off the table including the use of force as the last resort. If we don’t do it, no one else will do it for us. We remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting Niger towards peaceful and democratic stability in the country,” Tinubu said.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, disclosed further disclosed that military chiefs of the region had been given further directives to activate the standby force to serve as a last option in restoring the constitutional government of President Mohammed Bazoum.
The Summit communique, according to Touray resolved to:

‘Direct the President of the Commission to monitor the implementation of the sanctions.
’Direct the Committee of the Chief of Defence staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately.

’Order the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.

‘Underscore its continued commitment for the restoration of constitutional order through peaceful means’.

Touray added that the ECOWAS would need the support of partner countries and institutions including the United Nations on the restoration of peace and stability in the sub-region.

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Analysts said ECOWAS leaders’ insistence on the use of force reflected their fears about the potential contagion effects of the coup with three of the countries of the region under military rule before the Niger coup plotters struck. The fact that the deposed President is still in custody and the potential of intervention of Russia and other world powers, according to analysts, are factors that may not allow military intervention.

How Tinubu Can Stop Coup In West Africa 

Human rights activist, Femi Falana in a statement on Thursday attributed the rise of unconstitutional changes in government in the sub-region to external influence and interference, particularly from former colonial regimes, and unchecked extraction of the region’s vast natural resources. He said the twin evils have combined to perpetuate economic inequalities, frustrations and grievances among the populace, thus creating a conducive environment for coups and power struggles.
He added that ECOWAS leaders should end the crude exploitation of natural resources and empower the people to control the commonwealth of member states by Article 21 (1) of the Charter of the regional bloc. He also called for an end to the manipulation of constitutions and referenda by elected governments to extend the tenure of presidents.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria noted that in 2015, the ECOWAS leaders proposed to restrict West African presidents to two terms in office to stop unconstitutional changes of governments in West Africa. But the proposal was opposed by Togo and The Gambia, both with presidents who had been in power for more than two terms in office.
He noted that following the coup in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, ECOWAS leaders under the immediate past chairman, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana proposed to amend the Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance to limit the tenure of Presidents to a maximum period of two terms in office.
But again, the amendment was not passed due to the objection of President Alhasan Quatara of Cote d’Ivoire, Mall of Senegal, and Faure Eyadema of Togo. Presidents Quatara and Eyadema are currently spending more than two terms in office while President Mall is scheming for a third term.
He said Tinubu must ensure that the amendment is passed forthwith while sanctions are imposed on democratically elected presidents who engage in amendment of the national constitutions to extend their tenure beyond two terms to end military takeover of power in ECOWAS countries.