The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) must step up efforts in consolidating democracy in the region or risk having more coups, a development and international relations analyst, Prof Lord Mawuko Yevugah has said.
Yevugah’s comment is in reference to Thursday’s emergency summit in Lagos on the coup in Niger, after the country’s military chiefs defied an ultimatum to restore the elected president Mohamed Bazoum.
“ECOWAS needs to be more proactive in terms of political situation in the region,” he said on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Thursday (10 August). “If you look at what is happening in Niger, it’s a symptom of the broader issue of backsliding of democracy in Africa and West Africa.”
Consolidate
“And therefore, we need to address the root causes of the problem. We shouldn’t wait for them to degenerate before we take a reactive position, what is ECOWAS doing to consolidate democracy in the region?” he asked.
Yevugah added: “Elections are manipulated, institutions are abused, there is a general lack of development, so the environment is created for some of these things to happen.
“So, I think ECOWAS must do more. If they don’t do that we are going to see more examples of what has happened in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.”
Listen to Prof Mawuko Yevugah in the attached audio clip below:
Ill-advised
Speaking on the same programme, the head of research and capacity building at WANEP, Festus Aubyn described the proposed military intervention in Niger by ECOWAS as ill-advised.
“Initially their response was quite harsh, we can only solve this problem through a diplomatic means. ECOWAS was formed to ensure the economic wellbeing of its members, but over the years that has taken backstage,” Aubyn said.
Listen to Dr Festus Aubyn in the attached audio clip below:
Reporting by Fred Dzakpata in Accra
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