Niger Coup: Turning around an unfortunate happening — Our Security, Our Peace by Prof. O. E Bassey 

On July 26, 2023, Niger Republic was visited with a tragic twist as the Commander of the Presidential Guard, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, to seize power and impose the military on the country.

Ever since, the country has been at the centre of global discourse with international bodies piqued that a democratically elected government had been subverted in the West African nation.

Domestically yet surprisingly, it’s more of freedom for the Nigeriens considering the untold sufferings they have had to endure under President Bazoum, which is reported to have prompted the military takeover in order to return sanity to the nation.

With a population of about 27,294,785, most of its citizens are in alliance with the military, digging their heels in the militarian resort against a long-drawn-out draconian governmental rule. They have unanimously vowed to contend toe to toe nail to nail, and teeth to teeth with any country or body who decides to interfere in their affairs on the backdrop of its coupists  being issued a one-week ultimatum by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS to repose President Bazoum or face external military reaction.

The easy theory is that considering how small in size and military limited they are, it should be a teaparty for a supposed superior troops from the western bloc to invade the country and reinstate democracy. It is floated that there be a full-blown war against the military should they refuse to heed to the warning to surrender sovereignty. It is unacceptable for African brothers to sit, fold their hands and watch their own being taken as prisoner right in his own land. They must step in, in this time of need.

The question, however, is that as noble as rescuing a toppled nation is, should the option of war be one of the cards on the table? Especially with evidence of the ruins of past wars still reflective on the continent. From time immemorial, humans have always been tempted to get what they want by force, expending both human, financial and natural resources to the spirited course only to come down with regrets, time and again, of the choice being overbearingly costly. Yet, this choice keeps making it to the table of world and regional leaders when crisis in similitude of the Niger debacle come up.

And it hits home hard when it is realized that at the vanguard of wanting to step in with military intervention is Nigeria with its president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu doubling as the head of ECOWAS, reported to be considering tackling the Niger crisis with direct violence which is most likely to draw home a boomeranging effect and create a Russia-Ukraine like situation between these two countries who share thin-line borders.

There are a million and one reasons Nigeria nor any other ECOWAS member should not even contemplate going head to head with a country that most of its citizens are in support of the military usurp. They are not at war, there is only a coup which is rightly averse to democracy. But if democracy is anything to go by, it is not violence. So while Niger has self-determined to tread a path they think holds best for them given recent political realities, and the region and the world is disturbed over the development and its threat to democracy, the only ideal thing for real democrats to do — with emphasis on only — is to engage the new government in Niger in a deliberate, all-inclusive and solution-centric dialogue that will see a compromise on the right way forward for the country in light of the best interest of the people.

Again, where wars have taken place with millions of lives, multi-billion properties and infrastructure lost, it was always discovered that a dialogue steeped in acceptance of diverse interests with a focus to arrive at shared compromise for the best interests of the parties involved would have suffice. It is 2023, it will be foolhardy of us to go through the labour of fetching a sledgehammer all because we want a fly insect dead. It is important we are reminded how easy it is to start a war but how difficult it is to end one; how at the end of it all, it does not determine who is right but who and what is left. It is time we wage peace, not war.

Hosea 2:18: “In that day I will also make a covenant for them. With the beasts of the field, The birds of the sky. And the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword and war from the land,

And will make them lie down in safety.

Professor. Ofonime Emmanuel Bassey is a Security, Peace and Conflict Resolution Coach with decades of experience in the practice and promotion of Law Enforcement, Peace and Security through the Nigeria Police and the United Nations.

He is an advocate of Peace Leadership and Child Protection.

He has served and interacted at the top level management of the Nigeria Police as well as internationally as a United Nation’s Monitor/Mentor in Kosovo, Europe.

A professor of Peace Advocacy and Conflict Resolution, Dr. O.E Bassey is a certified United Nation’s Trainer, and currently the Director of ICOF Institute of Leadership, Peace and Conflict Resolution in Africa.

With his marks well-established in Peace Leadership both in Nigeria and Africa. Currently, he is the President, NISSI Safety Management Institute: An Institute of Peace Leadership.

Presently, he is spearheading a campaign tagged “The Next Peace Leaders”, a campaign that is billed to run from 2022-2023 with a target of training 37,000 young peace leaders.

For peace and security tips, consultations and trainings, reach him via:

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