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Military Coups Threaten West African Democracy – Chief Of Defence Staff
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, highlighted the threat of military coups to democracy in West Africa.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has warned that military coups in West African countries are undermining democratic values and causing unintended consequences in the region.
Speaking at the 42nd Ordinary Session of the Committee of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja on Wednesday, Musa emphasized the need to uphold democratic principles.
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He stated, “Recent challenges like the military coup in some countries in the region have had unintended consequences and have threatened our collective democratic values.
“This threat must be destroyed as it negates our core responsibilities as military professionals.
“As democratic countries, we in the military must uphold democratic values in line with our various constitutions.”
Musa expressed optimism that the meeting would prevent further coups and promote peace and sustainable development in West Africa.
He stressed the importance of collective efforts, intelligence sharing, and cross-border coordination to address security challenges.
“Collaboration is paramount, and I encourage you to address both the root causes and symptoms of this security in our region,” he added.
The Chief of Defence Staff highlighted critical areas for discussion, including the proposed Air Force Security Support Mission in Sierra Leone and the activation of the Air Force Standby Force against terrorism.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, also spoke at the session, highlighting the security risks posed by the withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from the regional bloc.
Military Coups Chief Of Defence Staff
In January, these three military-led nations announced their exit from ECOWAS, accusing the organization of being a threat to its member states.
Musah warned, “The exit of these countries from ECOWAS after almost five decades of diplomatic, political, and security cooperation will eventually generate unintended consequences on the security front.
“Such a withdrawal will inevitably undermine coordination and cooperation in the fight against terrorism, mandatory and transnational organized crime in our region.”
He called on the ECOWAS Defence Chiefs to finalize plans for the deployment to stabilize Sierra Leone and operationalize the ECOWAS Logistics Depot at Lungi in Sierra Leone.
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru, urged the development of new military strategies to ensure regional peace and stability.
He emphasized the need to address the proliferation of small arms, which has reached alarming levels in West Africa.
“The illicit movement of small arms and light weapons in our region has reached alarming levels.
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“There is a need for the development of new mechanisms to complement the existing Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons to effectively prevent further proliferation of these weapons,” Badaru stated.
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