Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, has come to the defense of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), stating that the regional organization’s primary objective is to prevent the proliferation of coups within the region.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Akinyemi dismissed the notion that ECOWAS is aligning its actions with the interests of France and Western countries in its efforts to address the political instability in Niger….CONTINUE READING

In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Akinyemi emphasized that ECOWAS is not serving French interests, but rather safeguarding its own territory by taking a stance on the situation in Niger.

The military carried out a coup and detained President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, causing political upheaval in Niger. Subsequently, ECOWAS took steps to restore stability, including imposing sanctions on the country and deploying a standby force for possible intervention.

At ECOWAS’ recent extraordinary summit on Niger in Abuja, the decision to deploy the standby force drew criticism from various quarters.

Akinyemi clarified, “While the French have a military presence in Niger, their troops’ extended stay raises questions about their effectiveness in countering terrorism activities in the Sahel region, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Their presence has been centered around safeguarding French economic interests rather than African interests.”

He continued, “ECOWAS, on the other hand, views the coup in Niger as a potential threat to regional stability. The organization’s concern is to prevent the spread of coup-related instability across its member states. This explains their firm stance in Niger, which should not be misconstrued as being directed by France.”

Akinyemi’s perspective underscores that ECOWAS’ actions are rooted in regional stability considerations rather than being influenced by foreign powers like France.