ECOWAS’s Existence at Stake in Niger Crisis, expert warns

Stakeholders and academics have warned that if the Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) is unable to restore democratic governance in the Republic of Niger, the organization existence may be at stake.

As they did so, they built up support for ECOWAS’ decision to consider using force to topple the military junta that has taken control of Niger.

At a symposium organized by the Lagos State University Department of History and International Relations on Friday, the speakers took turns presenting their arguments.

Dr. Adewunmi Falode, the symposium’s organizer and department head, stated that the goal of the gathering was to update the public on advances in Niger.

 “The essence of the symposium is to let the general public know the truth fact of the situation. we are scholars and we are dispassionate. we work on facts and not emotions. Our analysis is pure. it will serve as a guidance to what is happening in that part of the world,” he said.

Speaking on the subject of “Coup D’etat in Niger Republic: National, Regional and Global Ramifications,” the expert said it was time for the ECOWAS to put an end to what might turn into a regional trend of military rule.

Dr. Olawale Lawal, a lecturer in the division, asserted that the military option is preferable and that the ECOWAS standby force is capable of handling the situation.

The first well-known illustration of how ECOWAS intended to utilize its newly established unified force, he said, is the situation in Niger.

Lawal noted, “We all have international organizations and in building them, there are diplomatic tools and that is when you have the military options. All of them are engaged in diplomatic relations. They talk when they have issues. That is why they have conventions, protocols and declarations. But once you run counter to some of these conventions, there will be a communication of intentions and your failure to abide by some of the conventions will result in the use of military option.

“In December 2022, West Africa came out with a standing military command to tackle fundamental jihadism and coup d’etat. All other coups preceded the December date while the Niger coup is happening after then, so Niger is the first classical example of the demonstration of the might of what ECOWAS wanted to use the Army for. At the end of the day, the military of Niger and the countries supporting all put together cannot defeat the ECOWAS.”

Dr. Habeeb Sanni, a different lecturer, asserted that ECOWAS must use the military option or it will disband.

He added that the Niger coup is incompatible with democratic ideals and that the military has no place in politics.

According to Dr. Henry Ogunjewo of the Department of History and Strategic Studies at the University of Lagos Nobody knows which country would be the next to act if ECOWAS did not take action.