The military option to resolve the political crisis in Niger would be the worst choice the ECOWAS can make. This is the opinion of Daniel Edah, a candidate in the last presidential elections in Benin.
In a statement released on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, Daniel Edah weighed in on the debate regarding the coup that took place on July 26 in Niger.
The former candidate in the 2021 presidential elections believes that the military option announced by ECOWAS would be disastrous for the sub-region.
According to the Beninese political actor, a military intervention in Niger with the support of France and other foreign powers outside of Africa would amount to opening a new global geostrategic front, creating an extension of the conflict in Ukraine in West Africa, and exacerbating the extreme poverty that the majority of Africans face despite the wealth beneath our soil.
A military intervention in Niger, according to Daniel Edah, would only worsen insecurity throughout Africa and add further suffering, not only for the Nigerien people who are already burdened by poverty aggravated by sanctions, but also for the peoples and economies of neighboring countries, including Benin, whose security and economy depend on sub-regional stability.
“I would like to thank the Heads of State of ECOWAS for their patience after the expiration of their ultimatum and urge them not to carry out the threat of military intervention, which could escalate into a conflict of greater magnitude with unforeseeable and incalculable consequences for the entire sub-region,” said Daniel Edah.
He suggests that the ECOWAS Heads of State and their peers in the African Union should prioritize the diplomatic path by actively involving the ECOWAS parliament to take into account popular opinions and relying on traditional conflict resolution mechanisms for a diplomatic resolution, especially considering that the military authorities that have taken power in Niger have shown openness to mediation by religious authorities from Nigeria.
“In accordance with the African Union’s mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution, and in line with the principles of subsidiarity, I request that the African Union Commission kindly support ECOWAS in establishing a dialogue platform for Nigerien actors,” the political actor suggests.
He also urges the African Union Commission to support ECOWAS in setting up a dialogue platform for Nigerien actors.
To the military authorities, Daniel Edah calls on them to avoid any action that violates the physical and moral integrity of the deposed president and to avoid any escalation that would be detrimental to a diplomatic resolution of the crisis.
“Given that diplomatic relations between Niger and other countries are essential and primarily based on interests to be preserved, defended, or conquered, I urge France, the United States, and all friendly countries of Niger, as well as their media outlets, and African and foreign countries allied with the military authorities of Niger and their media outlets, along with pan-African activists, to support ECOWAS Heads of State and the military authorities of Niger in seeking a resolution to the internal crisis in Niger without military intervention,” Daniel Edah concluded.
