According to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the military takeovers of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have increased regional instability.
The disclosure was made by Omar Touray, the president of the ECOWAS Commission, during his opening remarks at yesterday’s ministerial-level ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, 51st Ordinary Session in Abuja.
On January 23, 2022, in Burkina Faso; on May 24, 2021, in Mali; and on July 26, 2023, in the Niger Republic, there was a coup d’état.
According to Touray, there are still issues with the region’s general security situation.
He said, “On the political front, the transition roadmaps and timetables agreed with the transition authorities in Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso for rapid and peaceful restoration of constitutional order have been implemented at varied paces amid worsening security situations.
“The attempted coup d’état in Niger has further distracted attention from the support to these transition processes as the transition countries seek to forge solidarity with the military authorities in the Republic of Niger, thereby creating an impression of a divide between them and ECOWAS.”
In addition to being “based on fake narratives and false justifications,” Touray pointed out that these military coups “are also a driver of insecurity in the region.”
The president stated: “In just Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, a total of 4.8 million people face food insecurity, 2.4 million people are internally displaced, and close to 9,000 schools remain closed to underscore the gravity of the insecurity to which military coups contribute from January 1 to October 23, 2023.
