Abuja, Nigeria – On Saturday, the Financial Group of West African States (ECOWAS) will maintain a summit in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, to debate the exit of three member states and a constitutional disaster in a fourth.
The withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from the regional bloc in January has heightened considerations over the potential unfold of insecurity within the Sahel to different components of West Africa.
Mixed, the trio have skilled 5 coups within the final three years, with the putschists citing the lack of the governments they changed, to deal with the unfold of armed teams within the area.
The coups have led to stiff post-coup sanctions from ECOWAS which have angered Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. But it surely has additionally triggered a debate in regards to the state of democracy within the area, whilst locals within the affected nations appear to have principally welcomed the army takeovers.
Forward of the bloc’s assembly, Nigeria’s army chief, Common Christopher Musa, spoke to Al Jazeera in Abuja on Tuesday in regards to the unfolding state of affairs in Niger and different issues, together with challenges Nigeria is going through in its personal battle towards armed teams.
This interview has been edited for readability.
Al Jazeera: What affect has Niger’s exit from ECOWAS had on operations to combat armed teams throughout the area?
Musa: We’ve the Multinational Joint Activity Power within the Lake Chad area, comprising Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Nigeria, however due to the problem with Niger, they’ve pulled out, although not completely as a result of they’re nonetheless holding onto their space as a result of they know the repercussions. In the event that they pull out, they are going to be uncovered. We really feel we’re all Africans – we must always by no means permit Africa to show right into a proxy warfare area. We can not afford to do this. Nigeria has nothing towards Niger, Cameroon or Burkina Faso. All of us want one another. They can not do it alone, and we can not do it alone. Collectively, we will confront the jihadists, and the jihadists are coming after them. Mali, Burkina Faso,, and Niger have been having sizzling with the jihadists.
Al Jazeera: Is the army decision of the disaster towards Niger nonetheless on the playing cards?
Musa: Diplomatically, ECOWAS is making efforts to get throughout to Niger for them to see explanation why they should return to democracy and return to ECOWAS. That’s why we prevented any army battle. There have been people that wished army battle, and we stated no. We don’t need our area to be become a proxy warfare space as a result of it can do us no good. Each nations want to stay buddies as a result of the enemy we’re coping with is able to kill anyone.
Al Jazeera: Do you suppose you might be geared up sufficient to presumably finish the warfare in Nigeria, the place armed teams have held sway for greater than a decade?
Musa: One among my biggest challenges is that I don’t have the weapons that I want. Even when I’ve the cash to purchase, getting them is an issue. We’ve conditions the place we go to different nations and even with our cash, to get them turns into an issue. If I can get 1 p.c of what’s being given to Ukraine, I guarantee you, Nigeria would be the most peaceable nation on this planet. But it surely’s tough even with my cash. Why are we not getting these weapons even when we have now cash to purchase them? We don’t produce them. President Bola Tinubu has directed that due to this, our defence industrial cooperation should work. We observed that if we don’t produce, we can be held to ransom. We don’t need anyone to carry us down.
Al Jazeera: What knowledgeable the choice to disclaim Nigeria the acquisition of some weapons to combat armed teams?
Musa: Some legal guidelines have been used towards us on why we can not get weapons due to ECOMOG [ECOWAS Monitoring Group] operations. ECOMOG was greater than 20 years in the past. Lots of people who took half in ECOMOG are now not within the system. Nigeria is thought for obeying human rights. Once we make errors, we personal up and make corrections. However we have now seen nations that don’t even obey human rights which are being given weapons freely.
Al Jazeera: On the matter of human rights, what’s the newest replace on the military drone attack that killed greater than 80 civilians in northern Kaduna in December?
Musa: The experiences are prepared and can in all probability be introduced earlier than the top of this month. Why we had some delays is as a result of we had been attempting to be very vital to get the names of those who suffered casualties and it’s been extraordinarily tough getting the names. From what we have now, it’s very clear it was a mistake, and we’re addressing it. Typically, issues simply occur, and there’s nothing you are able to do about it. We’ve seen the place we have now shortcomings, and we’re addressing them. We’ll by no means intentionally goal harmless civilians for no matter causes.
Al Jazeera: Considerations have been expressed in regards to the proliferation of arms and ammunition within the Sahel area.
Musa: We all know the challenges we have now with mild weapons and small arms worldwide. Their proliferation is inflicting plenty of concern in Africa, to Nigeria specifically and the West Africa subregion. Within the combat we have now with bandits, ISWAP, Boko Haram and the remainder, we have now been capable of recuperate plenty of unaccounted weapons into the nation. It reveals that we require worldwide cooperation and collaboration for us to have the ability to tackle this situation. Most African nations don’t produce these weapons. These weapons get into the incorrect arms, and so they turn into a risk. That’s the reason the worldwide group should take accountability for this to make sure that these weapons don’t get into the incorrect arms. For Nigeria, we’re constructing the capability of our borders to make sure we checkmate the actions of this tools as a result of we all know the hurt they’re inflicting. For us, the armed forces, and different members of the safety forces, we guarantee we safeguard the arms we have now been capable of formally procure.
Al Jazeera: With the warfare in Ukraine and the invasion of Gaza by Israel, received’t this add to considerations about arms moving into the arms of armed teams within the Sahel area?
Musa: We name on the worldwide group to take accountability to make sure they put measures in place to forestall these weapons from moving into the incorrect arms as a result of as soon as they do, we have now plenty of criminals and jihadists who’re prepared to make use of them towards harmless residents.
