The Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), a coalition of over 70 labour and civil society organisations, has given tips to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that could help to end coups in the sub-region.
The Cable paper reported that, Ahead of the meeting of ECOWAS leaders on Thursday to address the Niger crisis, ASCAB said it is important for the regional body to focus on the causes of the coup which has become a pattern in West Africa, and arrest the ugly development.
The group also urged ECOWAS to take into consideration putting additional sanctions on the military junta in Niger and refrain from military action in a statement that was signed by human rights attorney and ASCAB chairperson Femi Falana.
The statement reads, “The Authority of the Heads of State and Government should jettison the military option and impose more sanctions with a view to isolating the military junta in Niger. The call for the diplomatic initiative by the security chiefs reflects the wishes of the people of West Africa.”
“All of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) members had democratically elected governments until around three years ago. But there have been roughly nine successful and unsuccessful coup attempts in West Africa since several ECOWAS presidents decided to extend their terms.
The Authority of Heads of State and Government, the highest ECOWAS decision-making body, is scheduled to meet in Abuja on August 10, 2023. As a result, it is important to highlight the root causes of unconstitutional changes in government and suggest solutions.
The manipulation of constitutions and referenda by elected governments to prolong the terms of presidents, claims ASCAB, is the immediate cause of unconstitutional change of governments.
The group pointed out that attempts by ECOWAS to limit West African presidents to two terms in office had met with opposition from those in charge of nations plotting to lengthen their periods.
“The new chairman of ECOWAS, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, should 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,” the organization said.
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