President Bola Tinubu condemned the spate of military coups in Africa on Tuesday, describing them as wrong and unreflective of the collective aspirations of Africans. He said this at the ongoing 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA78) in New York.
He said the pervasiveness of coups connotes “a demand for solutions to perennial problems” and do not imply Africa’s support for unconstitutional change of government.
Tinubu said this in his maiden address to his counterparts during the ongoing debate at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA.
He said, “We must affirm democratic governance as the best guarantor of the sovereign will and well-being of the people. Military coups are wrong, as is any tilted civilian political arrangement that perpetuates injustice.”
In 2023 alone, military forces in Niger and Gabon overthrew the democratically elected governments of Mohamed Bazzoum and Ali Bongo, respectively.
This brings Africa’s total successful military coups to 107 since 1950, a lion’s share of the global count of 24.
The Nigerian leader argued that “the wave crossing parts of Africa does not demonstrate favor toward coups. It is a demand for solutions to perennial problems.”
Regarding Niger, Tinubu called for support from sister countries, affirming that the Economic Community of West African States is still negotiating with the junta.
He said, “As Chairman of ECOWAS, I seek to help re-establish democratic governance in a manner that addresses the political and economic challenges confronting that nation, including the violent extremists who seek to foment instability in our region. I extend a hand of friendship to all who genuinely support this mission.”
The President lamented that the protracted battle against violent extremists has created “a dark channel of inhumane commerce.”
He said, “Along the route, everything is for sale. Men, women, and children are seen as chattels.
Yet, thousands risk the Sahara’s hot sand and the Mediterranean’s cold depths in search of a better life.
