Tunji Wusu –
On Saturday, President Bola Tinubu encouraged African leaders to uphold democracy, the rule of law, and political stability in Nairobi, Kenya.
At the ongoing UNDP meeting in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, Tinubu made the announcement.
A coup d’état should be avoided on the continent, especially in light of issues like the COVID-19 epidemic, insecurity, and climate change, he said, urging African military institutions and states to recognize and respect the need for democratic renewal.
The president expressed regret that West Africa, despite having numerous instruments and mechanisms for promoting democracy and good governance, is leading other regions in the use of illegal means to change governments in a statement read at the event by Ambassador Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He also cautioned that the undesirable trend of the military into politics is endangering peace, security, and stability as well as producing poverty, displaced people, and humanitarian disasters.
“This ugly trend has only succeeded in threatening the sub-region’s peace, security, and stability, and by extension the stability of the entire African continent, leaving behind poverty, internal displacement, and humanitarian crisis,” he declared. In the same line, this undesirable trend has brought to worsening health issues and food shortages.
Therefore, we must consciously take action to address the underlying reasons behind illegal changes and coup d’états in Africa. We as a continent are unable to go forward in realizing the objectives of both the AU Agenda 2063 for the “Africa We Want” and the UN Agenda 2030 for sustainable development.
“Africa has experienced six successful coups d’état and three unsuccessful ones between 2020 to the present. This increase in military coups and unlawful regime changes disturbs our democratic processes and jeopardizes regional stability.
For this reason, I urge all African leaders to work together to uphold the principles of democracy and the rule of law in order to maintain political stability on the continent.
President Tinubu stated that all Afrocentric supranational organizations, particularly the African Union, the various Regional Economic Communities, and Regional Mechanisms, should individually and collectively adopt Protocols on democracy and good governance and ensure their effective implementation. He reaffirmed that Africa has no intention of regressing on its democratic gains and credentials, as well as its maturing democratic political culture.
President Tinubu underlined that democracy is the best form of government for Africa in the twenty-first century even if he acknowledged that it might have management and dynamics issues.
The ECOWAS chairman emphasized the need to deter coups d’état and encouraged the UN to take a strong stand against them.
“In my opinion, African leaders must deter coups d’état while addressing the difficulties brought on by the socioeconomic effects of the COVID-19 epidemic and other geostrategic tragedies, including insecurity and climate change among others.
He added that the UN must be resolute and unwavering in its opposition to military takeovers.
He added that adhering to democratic values and governance is essential for long-term peace, security, and economic prosperity and that democracy and development are intertwined in accomplishing sustainable goals and the African vision.
The UNDP and other development partners have President Tinubu’s commitment to collaborate on projects to enhance democracy on the African continent.
In addition to thanking UNDP for inviting him to speak at the occasion, the leader of Nigeria reaffirmed his commitment to addressing the problem of military coups and fostering democratic renewal in Africa.
“The issue of Military Coups and the need for Democratic renewal in Africa is one that I am passionate about and indeed committed, along with my colleagues, to confront, and we are prepared to change the narratives,” he said.
The UNDP’s flagship report, “Soldiers and Citizens: Military Coups and the Need for Democratic Renewal in Africa,” was released, and he praised the UNDP for it, saying that the military had no place in the government of Africa in the twenty-first century.
