According to reports, President Bola Tinubu and United States President Joe Biden have condemned the spate of military coups in Africa describing them as wrong and unreflective of the collective aspirations of Africans.
Tinubu, in his maiden at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA on Tuesday, also warned against dictatorial civilian government.
“We must affirm democratic governance as the best guarantor of the sovereign will and well-being of the people. Military coups are wrong, as is any tilted civilian political arrangement that perpetuates injustice,” Tinubu said.
In 2023 alone, military forces in Niger and Gabon overthrew the democratically-elected governments of Mohamed Bazzoum and Ali Bongo, respectively.
The Nigerian leader argued that “the wave crossing parts of Africa does not demonstrate favour towards coups. It is a demand for solutions to perennial problems.
Regarding Niger, Tinubu said the Economic Community of West African States was still negotiating with the military leaders.
He said “As Chairman of ECOWAS, I seek to help re-establish democratic governance in a manner that addresses the political and economic challenges confronting that nation, including the violent extremists who seek to foment instability in our region.
“I extend a hand of friendship to all who genuinely support this mission.”
On the protracted battle against violent extremists, the President lamented that the phenomenon had created “a dark channel of inhumane commerce.”.He said “Along the route, everything is for sale. Men, women, and children are seen as chattel. Yet, thousands risk the Sahara’s hot sand and the Mediterranean’s cold depths in search of a better life.
“At the same time, mercenaries and extremists with their lethal weapons and vile ideologies invade our region from the north.”
Tinubu argued that the harmful traffic undermined the peace and stability of an entire region.
Consequently “African nations will improve our economies so that our people do not risk their lives to sweep the floors and streets of other nations.
“We also shall devote ourselves to disbanding extremist groups on our turf.”
However, he called on the international community to strengthen its commitment to arrest the flow of arms and violent people into West Africa.
Similarly, he harped on the need to secure Africa’s mineral-rich areas from pilfering and conflict saying “Many such areas have become catacombs of misery and exploitation.”
“The Democratic Republic of the Congo has suffered this for decades, despite the strong UN presence there. The world economy owes the DRC much but gives her very little.
“The mayhem visited on resource-rich areas does not respect national boundaries. Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, CAR, the list grows.
“The problems also knock on Nigeria’s door. Foreign entities abetted by local criminals who aspire to be petty warlords have drafted thousands of people into servitude to illegally mine gold and other resources. Billions of dollars meant to improve the nation now fuel violent enterprises,” he noted.
The Nigerian leader warned that if left unchecked, these activities would threaten peace and place national security at grave risk.
He said that given the extent of injustice and the high stakes involved, many Africans are asking whether this phenomenon is by accident or by design.
Therefore, “Member nations must reply by working with us to deter their firms and nationals from this 21st-century pillage of the continent’s riches,” he called.
