The Alliance for Deepening Democracy (A4DD) has issued a fervent call to leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to take swift and resolute actions to address the mounting challenges to democratic principles and good governance across the region.
The alliance, comprised of organizations dedicated to enhancing democracy in Nigeria, has voiced its concern over recent unconstitutional government takeovers within the ECOWAS member countries and has urged leaders to act swiftly to prevent further instability.
In a press release issued today, the A4DD strongly condemned the military coup that transpired on July 28, 2023, resulting in the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic.
The alliance emphasized that the failure of leaders in numerous ECOWAS member states to uphold universally accepted democratic norms and principles of good governance has contributed to the escalating wave of insurgent activities and coup attempts, thereby undermining regional stability and democratic governance.
The statement by the Alliance underscored several pressing issues affecting good governance in West Africa. These include the disregard for constitutional term limits, manipulation of electoral processes leading to the rise of governments with questionable legitimacy, widespread human rights violations, limitations on civic freedoms, rampant corruption, a lack of judicial independence, and the inability of governments to provide basic public services to their citizens.
Expressing deep concern, the Alliance highlighted that the Niger coup marked the fourth successful military takeover of power in West Africa since 2020, leading to a region once celebrated for its dedication to democratic governance and stability being dubbed “the coup belt of Africa.”
The A4DD noted that while some coups were greeted with jubilation on the streets, the reactions stemmed not from a genuine fondness for military rule but from a growing disillusionment with democratic governance. Frustration persists among citizens due to leaders’ failure to meet collective and individual aspirations.
Insisting that ECOWAS leaders hold the responsibility to ensure good governance and adherence to democratic norms, the Alliance argued that since ECOWAS leaders cite the violation of the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance as the basis for their zero-tolerance stance on military takeovers, they should also adhere to the Protocol’s key feature of “constitutional convergence,” which outlines common democratic governance norms for member states.
The Alliance cautioned that the absence of ECOWAS leaders’ proactive response to challenges in good governance while focusing solely on military coups might convey a perception of their vested interest in retaining power rather than promoting universally accepted democratic norms and good governance.
Ms. Faith Waziri, Deputy Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Alliance and Communications Officer of the Women in Politics Forum, emphasized, “The alarming precedent set by military takeovers threatens the freedom of the people, and if left unchecked, could escalate into an unmanageable trend in the region.”
While acknowledging the region’s stance against military takeovers, Ms. Waziri raised concerns about the silence of ECOWAS leaders regarding violations of constitutional convergence principles outlined in the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Governance. This silence, she noted, has prompted questions about the legitimacy of ECOWAS’ commitment to championing democracy and good governance in the region.