- ECOWAS summit on member withdrawals
- Concerns over regional instability
- Diplomatic efforts to resolve crisis
Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, will host a summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Saturday to deliberate on the withdrawal of three member states and a constitutional crisis in the fourth.
Concerns have been heightened since January when Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso withdrew from the regional bloc due to the potential for insecurity to extend from the Sahel to other regions of West Africa.
Over the past three years, the three countries have been the target of a total of five coups. Each time, the putschists have attributed the failure of the administrations they overthrew to the proliferation of armed factions in the area.
ECOWAS has imposed severe post-coup sanctions, which have incited indignation among Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. However, it has also incited a discourse regarding the condition of democracy in the area, despite the fact that the majority of the populace in the impacted nations appears to have embraced the military coups.
During the interview, Musa addressed the evolving situation in Niger and other pertinent subjects, including the obstacles Nigeria is confronting in its own conflict against armed groups.
To ensure clarity, this interview has been edited.
To what extent has Niger’s withdrawal from ECOWAS influenced efforts to combat armed factions in the area?
Musa: The Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad region, which consists of Cameroon, Niger, Chad, and Nigeria, has withdrawn from the area due to the situation in Niger; however, this is not entirely the case, as they continue to retain their territory out of concern for the repercussions. They will be exposed should they withdraw their force. We consider ourselves to be all Africans; therefore, Africa should never be used as a theatre of proxy conflict. We simply cannot afford to carry that out. Nigeria holds no grievances against Burkina Faso, Niger, or Cameroon. Everyone requires the other. We cannot do it alone, and neither can they accomplish this on their own. We can confront the jihadists collectively, as they are pursuing them. Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali have all been at odds with jihadists recently.
Is a military resolution of the crisis in Niger still a possibility, according to Al Jazeera?
Musa: ECOWAS is endeavouring to establish diplomatic communication with Niger so that the country may recognise the necessity of reverting to democratic governance and reuniting with ECOWAS. We avoided any military conflict for this reason. Certain individuals desired military conflict, but we adamantly opposed their request. We have no interest in our region becoming a theatre of proxy conflict; doing so would be to our detriment. Our adversary is prepared to murder anyone, so it is vital that both nations maintain their friendship.
