Falana led group makes crucial suggestion to ECOWAS ahead meeting on Niger coup plotters

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has received advice from the Femi Falana led Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), a coalition of more than 70 labour and civil society organisations, that may help put an end to coups in the subregion.

ASCAB stated that it is crucial for the regional organisation to concentrate on the causes of the coup, which has established a trend in West Africa, and arrest the ugly development before the ECOWAS presidents’ meeting on Thursday to discuss the Niger situation.

The group also urged ECOWAS to take into consideration putting additional sanctions on the military junta in Niger and refrain from military action in a statement that was signed by human rights attorney and ASCAB chairperson Femi Falana.

“Since the call for the diplomatic initiative by the security chiefs reflects the wishes of the people of West Africa, the Authority of the Heads of State and Government should jettison the military option and impose more sanctions with a view to isolating the military junta in Niger,” the statement reads.

“Until about three years ago, all the member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) were led by democratically elected governments. But, since some ECOWAS leaders decided to extend their tenure, there had been about nine successful and unsuccessful coups in West Africa.

“In view of the meeting of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, the highest decision-making organ of the ECOWAS scheduled to hold in Abuja on Thursday, August 10, 2023, it is pertinent to draw attention to the main causes of unconstitutional change of government and how to arrest the ugly development.”

ASCAB contends that elected governments’ manipulation of constitutions and referenda to lengthen the terms of presidents is the immediate cause of unconstitutional changes to governments.

The organisation stated that ECOWAS had tried to limit West African presidents to two terms in office but had run into opposition from leaders of nations planning to lengthen their terms.

“The new chairman of ECOWAS, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, should ensure that the amendment is passed forthwith while sanctions are imposed on democratically elected presidents who engage in amendment of the national constitutions to extend their tenure beyond two terms,” the group said.