Democracy at risk in the West African Sub Region

By Temple Okonji Esq.

Democracy connotes rule through the Constitution and other recognized Legislative Instruments. Globally, democracy has become acknowledged as the best system of government since the Greek City years. And Africa as well as Africans, have embraced democracy though with grave distortions to suit the whims and caprices of the Elitist System.

In the last twenty years, save for intermittent disruptions, the whole of Africa has become “democratized". Although the systems in Africa are short of the global standards and practices, they have however continued to evolve positively and systemically.

For days running, the Democratic Structures in the Niger Republic have been halted following the incursion of the military in the system leading to the suspension of all known democratic structures in that country. The successfully executed coup has displaced, and replaced the elected system.

The implications of this orgy challenge can be viewed on the dangers of humanitarian crisis as well as heightened insecurities in the sub - region if this dangerous trend is not halted, and possibly disabled. 

The puzzle remains how a successful coup could be measurably launched given the presence of military bases of the United States of America and France in the Niger Republic. This is most disturbing in view of the fact that these economic and political super powers claim to be defenders and promoters of democracy globally. 

In response to the unfolding unfortunate political drama, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after an Extra-Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja on Sunday announced the imposition of sanctions on Niger as well as the Coup Leaders. They also gave a seven-day ultimatum to the military junta to release and reinstate President Mohammed Bazoum as the legitimate Head of State and Government of Niger Republic.  

These sanctions were imposed pursuant to Article 45 of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and had equally been applied to the coup plotters in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faco.

In the ensuing circumstances, the economy of the poor Country of the Niger Republic would be castrated leading to obvious hunger, starvation, deprivation, and other untoward calamities associated with such situations.

Another frightening dimension could be a possible military action against the Coup Leaders as well as the Country. Have the incubators of the idea of a military action in the cursed circumstance pondered on the overall consequences of such hasty decision on the sub - region, especially in considerations of the security challenges in Nigeria, and other neighbouring Countries? The challenges of the escalation of hostilities in the Country, obvious displacement and humanitarian crisis, hunger and deaths, including economic disasters, should be maximally weighed and weighted in whatever action(s) to be taken to address the hydra - headed political quagmire in the Niger Republic. 

While the quagmire endures, all humanitarian ideas should be concentrated on finding a common place founded on reason, safety and security as well as the economic prosperity of the Niger Republic. 

Temple Okonji Esq. wrote from Abuja, Nigeria.