Some stakeholders and scholars in Nigeria believe that if the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) fails to restore democracy in the Republic of Niger, the body may no longer exist.
The scholars made this assertion at a symposium hosted by the Department of History and International Relations of the Lagos State University (LASU) on Friday, August 18.
The symposium’s organizer and Department Director, Dr. Adewunmi Falode, said the objective of the symposium was to inform attendees of recent developments 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.
During the symposium, which was tagged “Coup D’etat in Niger Republic: National, Regional and Global Ramifications”, the scholars and stakeholders took turns to outline their positions against the situation in Niger.
Recall that on 26 July 2023, a coup d’état took place in the Republic of Niger when the country’s presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum and presidential guard commander General Abdourahamane Tchiani proclaimed himself the leader of a new military junta.
The scholars believe that if democracy is not restored in Niger, other West African countries that are practising democracy will be overridden by military juntas.
Hence, they urged ECOWAS to use force to restore democracy in the Republic of Niger to deter the spread of military rule in the region.
Dr. Olawale Lawal, a lecturer in the department, asserted that the military solution is the best at this point and that the ECOWAS standby force is equipped to handle the Niger situation.
The scholar said: “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 options.
“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.”
