The Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) has dismissed the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suggested military involvement in Niger Republic.
The coalition, which is led by human rights attorney and coalition Chairperson Femi Falana, requested that ECOWAS take into account imposing additional sanctions on the coup leaders in Niger in a statement released on Wednesday.
The coalition argued that in order to stop this ugly trend in West Africa, the regional body must concentrate on the causes of the coups, which have started to become a pattern there.
The statement says: “Since the security chiefs’ call for a diplomatic initiative reflects the desires of the people of West Africa, the Authority of the Heads of State and Government should abandon the use of force and instead impose additional sanctions with the goal of isolating the military junta in Niger.
“Until about three years ago, all the member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) were led by democratically elected governments. But, since some ECOWAS leaders decided to extend their tenure, there had been about nine successful and unsuccessful coups in West Africa.
“With the Authority of Heads of State and Government, the highest ECOWAS decision-making body, scheduled to meet in Abuja on Thursday, August 10, 2023, it is important to call attention to the root causes of unconstitutional changes in government and suggest solutions to stop the ugliness
According to ASCAB, elected governments’ manipulation of constitutions and referenda to extend presidents’ terms in office is the immediate cause of unconstitutional change of governments.
The group pointed out that ECOWAS had attempted to limit West African presidents to two terms in office, but that this had been resisted by leaders of nations who were planning to lengthen their terms.
“The new chairman of ECOWAS, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, should ensure that the amendment is passed immediately while sanctions are imposed on democratically elected presidents who engage in amendment of the national constitutions to extend their tenure beyond two terms,” it continued. “.
