Members of the ECOWAS Parliament Vote Against Military Action in Niger

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, has warned against the use of military action in handling the military coup crisis in Niger Republic, recommending a diplomatic approach instead.

ECOWAS Parliament held a virtual extraordinary plenary session on Saturday, following the raging controversy over the ECOWAS leaders’ resort to military action in resolving the situation in the former French colony.

During the meeting presided by the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Sidie Mohamed Tunis, members took turns to express their views on the situation, with the majority warning against the use of military intervention.

This comes hours after ECOWAS leaders ordered the deployment of its standby force, following the expiration of its seven-day deadline to the Niger military junta to restore deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.

First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Hon Idris Wase, said using military force to resolve the crisis will result in prolonged conflict, citing Russia and Ukraine as an example. He accused the subregional military chiefs of having ulterior economic motives for their alleged eagerness to deploy troops into Niger.

“We should be careful not to start what we can’t finish. When the Russia – Ukraine war started, people thought it was going to be a sharp war. A year after, the war is still lingering on with the attendant economic squander and wanton destruction of lives and properties,” he said.

“The subregional military chiefs know what they stand to benefit economically, that’s why they’re eager to militarily intervene in Niger. Most of them are corrupt.

“Any war on Niger will have adverse effect on 60 percent of Nigeria, especially, Northern Nigeria.”

Hon Linda Ikpeazu, another member of the parliament, said ECOWAS should explore diplomatic approaches. While acknowledging that inaction will eventually inspire the military in other countries to carry out coups, Ikpeazu said a diplomatic approach remains the best option, urging the regional bloc to appraise how effective diplomacy used in other countries under military rule, such as Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso was.

“How effective was the diplomatic approach ECOWAS adopted in Guinea Conakry, Mali, and Burkina Faso? The decision that ECOWAS should take in resolving the Niger political imbroglio will depend on how effective the diplomacy adopted in the countries already under military government was.

“If that’s not done, it means, we are tactically giving approval for coups, knowing that the subregional body, ECOWAS cannot do anything punitive,” she said.
ECOWAS, led by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, has already rolled out a series of sanctions against the Niger military junta. The sanctions include closing the borders between Nigeria and Niger and cutting off electricity supply for the French-speaking country.

Another Nigerian lawmaker and member of the ECOWAS parliament, Senator Ali Ndume said Tinubu, in his capacity as the Nigerian President and the ECOWAS chairman, does not have the constitutional power to unilaterally cut off Niger’s electricity and close the borders without the consent of the National Assembly.

“We are the representatives of the people. Whatever action that must be taken should be dependent on what our people want.

“The ECOWAS Chairman, President Tinubu, wrote to the Nigerian Senate on the planned military intervention in Niger and the Red Chamber vehemently opposed the use of force. Instead, dialogue should be adopted in resolving the impasse.

“President Tinubu has no right to close the Niger – Nigeria border and cutting electricity without the approval of the Nigerian National Assembly. It is not the Juntas that are suffering the sanctions, rather innocent people,” he said.

Likewise, Hadja Satu Camara, another member of the ECOWAS parliament, concurred with Ndume’s viewpoints.

Camara emphasized that the welfare of citizens should take precedence over any political considerations. She noted that the current economic situation in West Africa does not align with war as the optimal means to remove the military junta in the Republic of Niger.

Adding to the discussion, Hon Salou DJibo, the Fourth Deputy Speaker from Niger Republic, acknowledged some of the resolutions put forth by the ECOWAS Heads of State.

However, he stressed the importance of utilizing dialogue to resolve the deadlock. He pointed out that the sanctions imposed on Niger are already negatively impacting regular citizens, and he emphasized that resorting to war would only exacerbate the suffering of ordinary individuals.

“War will only compound the economic woes the peoples of the subregion are already going through.

“As we speak, over a thousand trucks, loaded with goods are stranded at the border,” he said.

The lawmaker asked where the ECOWAS is going to mobilize troops to fight the Nigerian or Ivorian military If a coup happened in Nigeria or Cote’d’Iviore tomorrow. “How many borders are we going to close?”

Honorable Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante implored ECOWAS to diligently focus on and address the underlying factors responsible for coups within ECOWAS member nations. The underlying factors are said to be bad leadership and corruption that have plunged the affected nations into abject poverty.

Among a few of the parliamentarians who expressed different views is Hon Adebayo Balogun. The lawmaker said there is a clear line between intervening militarily to dislodge coupists and declaring war on a country.

According to him, ECOWAS is not declaring war on Niger but simply intervening to remove the coupists from power because Niger is a signatory to ECOWAS revised protocol on non-military intervention.

With the overwhelming voices against military intervention, the parliament took the side of the Nigerian National Assembly, which had earlier rejected Tinubu’s request to deploy troops in the neighboring country.