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ECOWAS And The Burden of Coups

THE Hope is greatly concerned that democracy is currently under threat in Africa, especially in West Africa. In August 2020, a group of Malian colonels seized power and ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita; September 2021 in Guinea, President Alpha Conde was undemocratically ousted by Special forces commander Colonel Malady Doumbouya; Chad’s army also took power in April 2021 after President Idriss Deby was killed while visiting Chadian troops fighting rebels in the north; and recently, Burkina Faso’s military seized power on Jan 24, arresting President Roch Kabore after mutinying in demand for greater resources in the fight against Islamist militants.  There was an attempt to topple the government of  Guinea Bissau few day ago by elements with the country’s military.

THESE  aberrations in government have been justified on the existence of poverty, corruption, unrests and insecurity. However, we are not ignorant of the clandestine devices of the merchandise soldiers of fortune in Africa, who seek power to perpetuate what they condemn. There are nations with worse narratives than these in other parts of the world, who had not tinkered with democratic ideas and ideals to solve the problems of governance.

THE  African Union had taken a step in the right direction by suspending Burkina Faso, while ECOWAS has also berated the coup plotters and handed down sanctions and threats of sanctions to ensure the return of the soldiers to their barracks and embrace democracy. These steps however, The  Hope opines, would not deter other anti-democratic elements in West Africa from toppling the democratic apple cart.

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WE  recall that  ECOWAS  states that “the aims of the Community are to promote co-operation and integration, leading to the establishment of an economic union in West Africa in order to raise the living standards of its peoples, and to maintain and enhance economic stability, foster relations-among Member States and contribute to the progress and development of the African Continent” and that one of the means of achieving this is encapsulated in its fundamental principles (j) as being the “promotion and consolidation of a democratic system of governance in each Member State as envisaged by the Declaration of Political Principles adopted in Abuja on 6 July, 1991” and the general undertakings (1) which states that “Member States undertake to create favourable conditions for the attainment of the objectives of the Community, and particularly to take all necessary measures to harmonise their strategies and policies, and to refrain from any action that may hinder the attainment of the said objectives”.

ON these fundamental bases we stand to ascertain that ECOWAS was not proactive enough to prevent these coups. In the case of Burkina Faso, the excuse given is general to most West African States who are under the siege of terrorist organisations such as Boko Haram, Bandits, killer Herdsmen and ISWAP. These undesirable elements, being common enemies to ECOWAS, we are of the strong opinion that there is the need for the revitalization of the ECOMOG forces to proffer a unified military onslaught against these destructive marauders who seek for the decapitation and economic menopause of the sub-region.

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A unified sub-regional force would help in the harmonization of strategies and also attract the aid of the African union that would culminate in the demolition of all terrorist structures in the sub-region.

HOWEVER , The Hope observes that governance in most of the West African countries is still tainted with high level corruption and impoverishing policies that had over the years increased citizens’ angst thereby making the dividends of democracy a fading shadow. Given that prevention is safer than cure, it behooves ECOWAS to call the Heads of Government and Rulers of the various countries to order and re-orientate them towards the development of humans in their various countries.

TO this end, we suggest the ECOWAS establish a Peer Review Mechanisms that would engage in the monitoring of socio-economic and political activities in every nation State. We are persuaded that this would in the long run ensure that national leaders, “refrain from any action that may hinder the attainment of the said objectives”. Member nations should therefore submit themselves to this new innovation too. In addition to this, ECOWAS should not shy away from invoking stricter measures against nations that violate the principles, and aims of the organisation.

WHILE we join our voices unequivocally to condemn the recent military putsch in Burkina Faso, as well as in other African countries; truth be told, however, that the coups are awakening calls that the Democratic governments in the ECOWAS region desist from misrule, and arrogance in power. It is time for our political leaders, to ensure that peace, prosperity and wellbeing of the citizens are guaranteed in their countries.

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