Niger coup: west African union has pledged to intervene – but some members support the plotters
Tinubu insisted that Ecowas would work collectively to combat terrorism and promote democracy in west Africa, explaining:
- Tinubu insisted that Ecowas would work collectively to combat terrorism and promote democracy in west Africa, explaining:
We must stand firm on democracy. - There is no governance, freedom and rule of law without democracy.
- We will not accept coup after coup in west Africa again.
- But the junta has pledged not to back down despite these “inhumane sanctions”.
What is Ecowas?
- Over the years, it has expanded its remit to include a security role.
- In neighbouring Sierra Leone, Johnny Paul Koroma, an army major, led a military coup on May 25 1997, overthrowing the government of Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.
Stretching military capacity
- But conditions are very different in the region now from when the organisation successfully led the interventions described above.
- West Africa is riddled with violence associated with jihadi terrorism involving Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram.
- These issues have stretched the military capacity of Ecowas member states, many of whom have their own problems to deal with.
Unpopular leader
- His election was also condemned in some quarters as cronyism, as he was the handpicked successor of the outgoing president Mahamadou Issoufou.
- Bazoum’s decision to ban members of his government from having more than one wife has also ruffled powerful feathers.
- His chief of staff, General Christopher Musa, has assembled Ecowas defence ministers for a two-day summit in Abuja.