Military force can’t restore democracy in Niger – Col. Festus Aboagye

Security analyst, Colonel Festus Aboagye has stated that it is the function of politics and diplomacy to restore democracy and not a military mandate.

This follows the Authority of Heads of State and Governments of Economic Community of West Africa State (ECOWAS) as part of a decision at its meeting held in Abuja to deploy a standby force to Niger.

The military juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali have said any forcible attempt to restore President Mohamed Bazoum in neighbouring Niger will be seen as a declaration of war on them.

This follows a threat from a regional bloc that it would “take all measures” if the president was not reinstated.

Commenting on the ECOWAS move, the security analyst stated that no Military General will understand the move to go to Niger and restore democracy.

“The order for the ECOWAS Standby Force is to go to Niger if diplomacy fails to restore democracy. I think I have an issue with whether it is a strategic intent or a strategic objective of ECOWAS. But it cannot be the mandate for any military force to install democracy, that’s the function of politics, that’s the function of diplomacy.

“So I was expecting ECOWAS to be a bit more specific as to what the military should go to Niger to do. You have sanction right, so part of the military mandate, the task will be to go to Niger to enforce the mandate,” Colonel Aboagye stated.

He continued: “The other one is that you have the CNSP, National Council for Save Guarding the Home Land which are extra legally seizing power in Niger, so the military function is to go there and defect them. Because that is a military force to destroy them, to neutralize them and isolate them. That every General will understand.”