The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has advised the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against using force to remove the putschists in the Republic of Niger.
The ACF’s secretary general, Murtala Aliyu, said this in a statement.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) stated that it supported the position to reinstate democratic government in Niger while denouncing the coup and calling for its restoration. In order to maintain regional security and foster peaceful coexistence with its friendly neighbor, ECOWAS should follow the route of negotiation and diplomacy rather than resorting to force to break the current impasse in Niger.
The document continued, “Families and communities have shared common facilities, including farmlands, markets, cultural bonds, and languages, for many centuries, predating the Trans-Saharan Trade and colonial times. Nigeria and Niger share a long historical border of more than 1,500 kilometers.”
The Arewa group stated that the ECOWAS should assess the potential repercussions of using force against the historical precedents, shared interests, and other options available to the two countries.
The military option shouldn’t be a must for Nigeria and the community’s ongoing efforts to enshrine democracy in the region in the 21st century, the Arewa Northern Group said, even though it acknowledges ECOWAS’ position to exert pressure on the coupists.
“The ECOWAS is a shining example of functional regional economic cooperation (REC) on the continent and should be sustained,” the statement continued. While a military intervention would produce short-term fixes, the consequences for Nigeria as a leader and the regional organization would be detrimental to future ties and make recovery an impossible challenge.
The heads of state of ECOWAS gave the Nigerien military a seven-day deadline on Sunday to reestablish constitutional order and restore President Muhammed Bazoum to his position.
All commercial flights between Niger and ECOWAS member states were halted as a result of the bloc’s enactment of land and border closures.
Omar Touray, the head of the ECOWAS Commission, announced the choice and stated that all of the member states chiefs of defense staff will convene for an urgent conference to discuss how best to carry out a potential military action to reinstate Bazoum as president.
He declared that ECOWAS would “take all necessary measures to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger,” adding that “such measures may” involve resorting to force.
“To this effect, the Chiefs of Defense Staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately,” it said.
The ECOWAS head, Bola Tinubu, sent a mission to the Niger Republic on Thursday with instructions to swiftly end the nation’s present political impasse.
Bola Tinubu claimed in a statement released by his media assistant, Ajuri Ngelale, that the action was in line with the decisions made at the end of the special ECOWAS summit, which took place in Abuja on July 30.
On Thursday, the group, under the command of former Nigerian military chief Abdulsalami Abubakar, left for Niamey following a briefing by Mr. Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.
Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, and the head of the ECOWAS Commission are also members of the delegation.
To discuss the Niger situation with the presidents of Libya and Algeria, Mr. Tinubu also dispatched a separate group under the leadership of Babagana Kingibe.
“We don’t want to keep anyone waiting. Democracy and regional peace are our main concerns, the president declared. #Arewa
(NAN)
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