He claimed that ECOWAS is not defending French interests, but merely attempting to prevent the spread of coups in the subregion.
Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, a former minister of external affairs, has refuted allegations that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is acting at the behest of France and other Western nations in its attempts to address the political unrest in Niger.
After the military overthrew and imprisoned President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, the West African bloc is presently attempting to restore political stability in Niger.
Many believe that the coup leaders were acting on orders from France when the regional organisation slapped severe sanctions on Niger and threatened military action if Bazoum’s government was not restored.
Akinyemi, however, stated on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday that ECOWAS is not defending French interests and is merely attempting to halt the spread of coups in the sub-region.
“The French have forces there (in Niger), and those troops have to leave because if they have been there and the Sahel region has seen terrorism operations in Mali, Niger, or Burkina Faso, then what have the French military been doing for 60 years? Instead of protecting the interests of Africans, they have been protecting those of France.
Therefore, the French forces should withdraw; I am not at all defending France. But as a scholar, I don’t think French policies and ECOWAS policies are compatible. The French have a vested interest in safeguarding their economic interests, while ECOWAS had a vested interest in viewing the coup in Niger as a threat to their own countries’ peace and safety.
“They (ECOWAS) do not want coups to proliferate throughout their nations. They considered it necessary to establish the border in Niger for this reason. Therefore, that does not imply that France is tele-guiding ECOWAS or that France is tele-guiding Nigeria, Akinyemi stated.
On Thursday, ECOWAS ordered the deployment of its standby force to restore democracy in the West African country during its most recent extraordinary session on Niger in Abuja, Nigeria.
