Senator Shehu Sani has listed five reasons West Africa continues to witness military coups in the last few years.
The activist-turned-politician was reacting to the recent coup in Niger Republic, a few months after a similar regime change in Burkina Faso.
He listed the reasons as follows:
1) Strangulation of democracy by the political class and shrinking civil space
2) Economic challenges that lead to widespread poverty and hunger
3) Security challenges; the spread of terror groups and overreliance on the military
4) Expanding presence of Russian and Chinese influence in the economic, security and political spheres
5) Failure of sanctions to have any meaningful impact on coupists.
Senator Sani had earlier accused the Head of State of the Junta of Niger Republic, General Tchani, of murdering democracy in Niger Republic.
Despite condemning the seizure of power in the tiny West African nation, Senator Sani warned the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) not to employ military force to dislodge the coupists.
“I condemn the Niger Coup, but France, US or ECOWAS should not attempt to use military force in any way. The country can melt into a Sudan-like civil war if force is used,” he stated.
Senator Sani also queried the presence of American and French military bases in the sub-region if they could not prevent coups from happening.
He wrote:
“The American and French Military bases in the Niger Republic have not been able to stop coups. I wonder how the 15-day warning from the African Union will be able to make a difference. Anyway, let’s hope for the best.”
