Coalition to ECOWAS: Suspend activities in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger

The Coalition of Pro-democracy Activists in West Africa has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to suspend all its activities in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger over their refusal to return to the regional bloc.

The coalition made the call in a statement by Bishir Katsina, the coordinator of the group, made available to Daily Trust on Thursday.

“The Coalition of Pro-democracy Activists in West Africa is bewildered and frightened by an unusual silence and indifference to the continuous violations of ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance by military juntas of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

“Article 1b of the protocol clearly states that: ‘Every accession to power must be made through free, fair and transparent elections. 

“Furthermore, lc reaffirms zero tolerance for power obtained or maintained by unconstitutional means”, he said. 

While pointing out that all the accession of power in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger by the current military rulers was done through unconstitutional means, he queried the rationale behind the ECOWAS’ decision to turn a blind eye to these infractions.

“Up till this moment, the military governments of these countries have not shown any iota of commitment to restore constitutional order. 

“Political prisoners including the democratically elected president of the Niger Republic, Bazoum Mohammed, are kept in detention, dissidents are silenced or vanished yet ECOWAS is taking no action.

“All these are happening in spite of the lifting of sanctions on these countries made by ECOWAS on compassionate grounds,” he said.

The group expressed dismay that the juntas have refused to reciprocate the gesture and are taking more anti-ECOWAS measures in their respective countries. 

“They refuse to release President Bazoum, and many political prisoners in the case of Niger. They have also created their own new passport.

“It is in view of the foregoing that we are urging the ECOWAS to stop executing any program in these countries. You should stop recruiting nationals of these countries until constitutional order is fully restored,” the statement said.