AFRICA/NIGER - "Everything possible must be done to avoid a "second Libya": the Bishops of Niger, Burkina Faso and Nigeria against the armed intervention

Niamey (Fides News Agency) - There is a move towards an extension of the ultimatum given by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to the putschist military junta demanding they free President Mohamed Bazoum, and turn power back over to the legitimate civil government. The ultimatum which expired yesterday, Sunday August 6, threatened military action on part of some of the ECOWAS countries, led by Nigeria, whose Head of State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is the Community's incumbent rotating president.
A possible intervention in the neighboring country, however, has sparked fears and opposition within Nigeria itself, with the Federal Senate not being in favor, while in the 7 northern Nigerian States which share a border with Niger, the voices opposing a military solution were even more pronounced.
The Bishops' Conference of Nigeria expressed their opposition in a statement by their president, Mons. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Archbishop of Owerri. "We ask President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dissuade the ECOWAS Heads of State from the temptation of going to war against the putschists", Mons. Ugorji said, "We ask them to stop the imminent bloodshed that would follow an armed intervention. We have wasted much human life in Africa. We have also wasted precious human lives in Nigeria and cannot continue in this horrible way, for whatever reason".
"While we do say no to the coup, we also say no to war, whatever the reason may be" Mons. Ugorji continues. "President Tinubu should kindly refrain from launching any military expeditions in Niger. Let us not forget that during the ECOMOG operation (the mission led by Nigerian troops in Liberia and Sierra Leone - Ed.), Nigeria not only played a major role, but also bore the weight of the loss of human and material resources" he underlines. "ECOWAS Heads of State should kindly reflect on what the destiny of the organization would be if they initiate a military intervention in Niger" Mons. Ugorji said, "Wars don't resolve disputes. It's better to dialogue than start a large-scale war, of which nobody can precisely predict the end" he concluded.
The Bishops' Conference of Burkina Faso-Niger also declared itself contrary to military action. "We don't believe in force as a solution at all, and we expressly reject it" they stated in a message published on August 4 and signed by their President, Mons. Laurent Dabiré, Bishop of Dori, in northeast Burkina Faso. "Indeed, how could one not be worried when the specter of war appears among the envisaged solutions to come of out of this crisis, suggesting a possible "second Libya", even though the fatal and disastrous consequences of destabilizing these countries continue to bring the people in the Sahel terrible suffering", they conclude. (L.M.) (Fides News Agency 7/8/2023)

Share:

coup

---

---