Very strange that landlocked countries could do this: “The junta-led Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have disclosed a plan to establish a confederation that will deepen their ties following their exit from the regional West African bloc.
“According to the statement issued by the Malian foreign ministry on Thursday, the three countries would form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The three neighboring countries in the Sahel region announced in January they would quit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), despite a decision by the bloc urging them to rethink.”
On paper, this alliance makes no economic sense. Yet, things happen. Just raise the tariffs transiting to them by 1000%, and they will understand a different language in trade! Of course, they can also go to court and argue that you cannot do that due to the African Union charter.
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This is a lesson for ECOWAS. The best way to protect democracy is free and fair elections. The citizens are not stupid as we have seen in Gabon and some of these countries. You cannot use sanctions to fix improper elections where votes are illegally stolen.
Of course, this is not to support what these khaki men do. My point is that when we fail to have free and fair elections, we create fertile grounds to allow them to operate. Look at Gabon, and some of these countries, and examine the support from the citizens. Yes, the citizens are just fine!
ECOWAS and AU must work harder to make sure elections are done right.
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