Coup in Niger: ECOMOG intervention will be great to get the despots out – Legal Practitioner.

Niger coup: Junta shuts airspace citing military intervention threat
Regarding the coup that took place in Niger, a private legal practitioner in Ghana Mr Kofi Bentil has asked the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) to intervene and get the coup makers out.

ECOMOG was a West African multilateral armed force established by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The main military functions of ECOMOG, in accordance with the Cotonou and Accra agreements, were the protection of civilians in safe havens; establishment and provision of security for assembly sites, where the combatants would initially congregate pending disarmament.

The Vice President of Imani Africa further said the fact that a person picks a gun and topples a constitutionally-elected government does not make the coup maker a better person to lead.

He said overthrowing a government does not increase the stock of wisdom of the cou makers.

In a Facebook post,Mr Bentil said “Holding a gun does not increase a person’s stock of wisdom or make them a better person to lead!! Ecomog intervention in Niger will be GREAT for democracy in West Africa. And send a strong message that despots are not welcome. Get them out!”

Niger’s military leaders have closed the country’s airspace after defying a deadline by the regional bloc Ecowas to hand back power to a civilian government or face possible armed intervention.

The army said it believes preparations to invade Niger had begun in two African countries but gave no evidence.

The soldiers in the West African country announced a coup on national TV.

They said they had dissolved the constitution, suspended all institutions and closed the nation’s borders.

Niger President Mohamed Bazoum has been held by troops from the presidential guard since early on Wednesday.

He was promised Washington’s “unwavering support” in a call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also said he had spoken to the president and offered the UN’s full support.

Mr Bazoum is a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist militancy in West Africa.

Two neighbouring countries, Mali and Burkina Faso, have experienced coups triggered by jihadist uprisings in recent years.

In both countries the new military leaders have fallen out with France, the former colonial power, which also formerly ruled Niger.

Source: 3news

Richard Koomson| mediacentralonline.info |Ghana
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