Military Chiefs from several West African countries gathered at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday for a critical meeting concerning the recent military coup in the Republic of Niger.
Chaired by Gen. Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff and the Chairman of ECOWAS military Chiefs, the meeting aimed to discuss and respond to the unfolding situation in Niger
Sources close to the meeting said that the military chiefs present at the meeting include Togo, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Guinea, Gambia, Cote’Divoire, Cabo Verde and Republic of Benin.
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According to the source, the seats allocated to Mali, Guinea Bissau, Niger and Burkina Faso military chiefs were vacant indicating boycott of the meeting.
The meeting however observed that the recent coup d’etat in the Republic of Niger was one incident that called for collective attention and a united response.
The Nigerian Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) and incumbent President of the ECOWAS Committee of Chief of Defence Staff (CCDS), General Christopher Musa, while speaking at the opening ceremony observed that the task of restoring democratic governance in Republic of Niger “is fraught with potential hurdles and complications”
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According to General Musa, “It is this principle that compels us to convene today and address the current situation in Niger. The political instability in Niger is a source of grave concern for us all. It threatens our shared vision of a peaceful, secure, and prosperous West Africa, a vision that is impossible to achieve amidst political upheavals and disruptions to constitutional order.
“Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to deliberate on this issue, the task of restoring democratic governance in Niger is fraught with potential hurdles and complications. However, we cannot afford to be hamstrung by these challenges. Instead, we must confront them head-on, drawing upon our shared experiences, wisdom, and the strength of our collective resolve”.
He added, “Our decisions will send a strong message about our commitment to democracy, our intolerance for unconstitutional changes of government, and our dedication to regional stability”.
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The CDS also drew attention to the people of Niger, who are the most affected by the current situation, saying, “Our actions should be guided by their interests and wellbeing”.
He noted that “it is the responsibility of the military to ensure that voices of the citizens of Niger are not silenced, their rights not trampled upon, and their aspirations for a peaceful and democratic country are not dashed.