liyasu S. Yahaya, Abuja – Nigeria
A high-level delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) arrived in Guinea-Bissau on Monday to push for the restoration of constitutional order after the military seized power last week. The delegation, led by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, aims to persuade the coup leaders to restore civilian rule and release the contested election results.
The military, which installed former army chief Gen. Horta Inta-a as the head of the military government, has banned all demonstrations, strikes, and activities regarded as threats to peace and stability. The ECOWAS delegation’s visit comes amidst regional and continental pressure on the coup leaders, with the African Union (AU) suspending Guinea-Bissau from all AU activities until constitutional order is restored.
The multimillion dollars question is; Why ECOWAS Visits After Coups, Not Rigged Elections or Corrupt Administration?
ECOWAS as an organization has been criticized for its inconsistent approach to addressing governance issues in the region.They should adopt a more proactive approach to preventing and addressing governance crises, rather than just responding to coups.
