Africa
Niger: We’re more likely to use force — ECOWAS
Niger: We’re more likely to use force — ECOWAS
The Economic Community of West African States has said it was more likely to use military force to restore constitutional order in Niger Republic.
This will be if the military junta, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, was bent on his three-year transition plan.
Fielding questions on Channels Television’s breakfast programme: “Sunrise Daily,” ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, also dismissed insinuations that ECOWAS was acting under the influence of a foreign power.
He explained that the community’s chances of using military force to restore constitutional order in Niger were very likely.
Musah said: “Right from the 1960s, I have never seen a coup that has not enjoyed continuous support from the people.
“The support can be engineered; you can rent crowds; that does not imply that people are unconcerned about their future.
“The high level of youth unemployment is a factor; mismanagement of our resources is a factor.
“But is the military a better sort of governance of our economy?
“Empirical data in our region never demonstrate that.
“So is that the right way to go about trying to change the system?
“A few years ago, you could not even talk of an incumbent president being defeated in an election.
“Since about 1992, we have seen alternations of power where sitting presidents were defeated and where ruling parties were defeated, whether in Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, or even Liberia.
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“So there’s already progress.”
On the plan by ECOWAS to pragmatically restore peace to Niger after the crisis, he said: “What plans does the coup led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani have for the country?
“They are now embarking on a blind experiment, saying they are going to have a three-year transition, they are going to consult people, so they themselves came without a plan.
“Now that they have overthrown a democratically elected government, they are thinking about alternatives.
“We have seen that where coups have occurred, we have not seen any major alternative better to save the population the military claim to save in those countries.
“So before the coup, ECOWAS had identified the cascading terrorism moving from Burkina Faso to coastal countries as an existential trend that threatened the livelihood of West African citizens and was an impediment to economic development.
“Let’s first remove that obstacle and put in place a regional plan for governance, which is already there.
“So there are rules and engagement for developing the country through regional and economic integration and increasing intra- and West African trade.
“All these are there, but they take time to bear fruit, and the military is not an alternative.
“We are just talking about West Africa as if it were an island.
“All these challenges we are talking about are global.
“Even in most advanced countries, ordinary people are suffering, and they have not chosen to take part in overthrowing their governments.
“So why here?
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“The inflation in the US, UK and other parts of Africa is not better than what we are seeing in West Africa today.
“In terms of ECOWAS reinstating constitutional order, it starts with consultation with all the active forces in the country, including political parties, the labour movement, and civil society organisations, they all have a say in it.
“So at the regional level, ECOWAS is already in the process of developing the economic and social council, which is the interface between civil society and policymaking in the region.
“The main driving slogan of ECOWAS is transforming the region from an ECOWAS of states, driven by the decisions of heads of state to an ECOWAS of the people.
“The process is ongoing.”
Asked on a scale of one to 10 how likely ECOWAS would deploy force in Niger, Ambassador Musah said: “Personally, my wish is that it should be at zero, but I think given the posture of the regime, I will put it at seven because if they continue to frustrate the non-violent proposal to reinstate constitutional order and then give an unacceptable timetable for return to constitutional order, they make the use of force more likely.
“At least, they have come forward to say they have an intention to return the country to constitutional order, but ECOWAS does not agree with the time frame, so even that agreement in principle is a move forward by the junta, but we will continue to consult to know the minimum, which would be the decisions by the authority of heads of state.”
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Asked if ECOWAS was fixated on reinstating President Mohamed Bazoum, he said: “ECOWAS is asking for the release of Bazoum and his reinstatement.
“So we are calling on the junta to be reasonable because the three years they are talking about are nothing less than a provocation to the ECOWAS community.”
ECOWAS denies influence of ‘foreign power
Ambassador Musah also disproved claims of manipulation of external powers in its efforts to resolve the political instability in Niger Republic.
While noting that foreign support was not part of the consideration of the West African body, he said: “We’ve never discussed our plans with any foreign power, whether they are on the ground, they are in the air, they are in their countries – ECOWAS is taking an independent autonomous decision.”
He noted that ECOWAS had not given any consideration to the complexities of the nationals and multinationals who had given a foot on the ground.
Musah added: “I’m just coming from Accra where the chiefs of defence staff finalised their preparation for a potential military intervention in the country – foreign support was never part of the country at all.
“We are in with our contingent, own equipment, and our resources and we are not asking anybody for support, that is the position of ECOWAS.”
Vanguard News.
Africa
Nigeria denies alleged plot to destabilise Niger Republic
Nigeria denies alleged plot to destabilise Niger Republic
The Federal Government of Nigeria has refuted “in very strong terms” allegations that it is plotting to destabilise neighbouring Niger Republic.
The Nigerien authorities alleged that the Lakurawa terrorist group, with the help of foreign security forces, including Nigerian security forces, were responsible for the attack on the Niger-Benin oil pipeline on December 13, 2024, in Gaya, Dosso Region of Niger Republic.
However, Nigeria, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on Saturday signed by its acting spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, refuted the allegation.
“The Government of Nigeria condoles with the Government of Niger over the unfortunate attack on the oil pipeline, but informs that the perpetrators were neither backed nor assisted by Nigerian authorities.
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“The Government of Nigeria is strongly committed to the fight against terrorism and will not condone or support the activities of such groups.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria also expresses very serious concern and states categorically that there are no French military troops in the northern part of the country preparing to destabilize the Government of Niger.
“These allegations are unfounded and should be discarded in their entirety,” the Statement read in part.
It also noted that the relationship between Nigeria and France had always been cordial, saying it is guided by mutual respect, dignity, and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.
The government of Nigeria assured that it would continue to explore all peaceful means to maintain its cordial relationship with the Republic of Niger for the benefit of the people of both countries.
Nigeria denies alleged plot to destabilise Niger Republic
Africa
Suspected witchdoctors arrested over attempt to ‘bewitch’ Zambia’s President
Suspected witchdoctors arrested over attempt to ‘bewitch’ Zambia’s President
Two men were detained in Zambia on charges of being “witchdoctors” tasked with attempting to bewitch the president.
The police stated they had arrested Jasten Mabulesse Candunde and Leonard Phiri in Lusaka.
“Their purported mission was to use charms to harm” President Hakainde Hichilema, according to the police statement issued on Friday.
Many individuals in the southern African country believe in and dread witches.
The police stated Mr. Candunde and Mr. Phiri were hired by Nelson Banda, MP Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda’s younger brother.
The MP was reportedly arrested last month in nearby Zimbabwe on robbery allegations, which he denies, but he has not been seen in public since.
He is also accused of escaping from detention in August while waiting to appear in court.
The opposition Patriotic Front (PF), led by z, has previously claimed that the charges are politically motivated.
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Emmanuel Banda, who has been an independent MP since 2021, previously worked with Lungu, who lost the presidency to Hichilema that same year.
The police stated the MP’s younger brother, Nelson, was “currently on the run” in their statement.
Mr. Candunde and Mr. Phiri face charges under Zambia’s Witchcraft Act for “possession of charms,” “professing knowledge of witchcraft,” and “cruelty to wild animals.”
The pair was found with “assorted charms,” including a live chameleon, according to the authorities.
According to the police statement, they claimed they had been given more than 2 million Zambian kwacha (£58,000; $73,000) for their “mission.”
The accused are in jail and will appear in court “soon,” according to the police, although no specific date has been set for the hearing. They have not yet responded in public to the charges.
Suspected witchdoctors arrested over attempt to ‘bewitch’ Zambia’s President
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