President Bola Tinubu encouraged African leaders on Saturday in Nairobi, Kenya, to respect democracy, the rule of law, and political stability.
Tinubu announced the ongoing United Nations Development Programme in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.
He urged African military institutions and states to recognize and respect the need for democratic renewal, adding coups should be prevented on the continent, particularly concerning issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, insecurity, and climate change.
In a statement read aloud at the event by Ambassador Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the president expressed regret that, despite its numerous instruments and mechanisms for promoting democracy and good governance, West Africa is leading other regions in the use of unconstitutional means to change governments.
He also cautioned that the military’s foray into politics is endangering peace, security, and stability and fueling poverty, displacement, and humanitarian disasters.
He said, ”This ugly trend has only succeeded in threatening the peace, security, and stability of the sub-region and by extension the African continent, leaving in its trail poverty, internally-displaced persons, and humanitarian crisis. In the same vein, this ugly trend has also led to food shortages and escalated health challenges.
”We therefore must take deliberate steps to address the root causes of unconstitutional changes and coups d’état in Africa. As a continent, we cannot progress toward achieving the goals and targets of the UN Agenda 2030 for sustainable development, as well as those of the AU Agenda 2063 for the “Africa We Want”.
”Between 2020 and now, Africa has witnessed six successful coups d’état and three unsuccessful attempts. This rise in military takeovers and unconstitutional changes in government disrupts our democratic processes and undermines stability on the continent.
”It is for this reason that I call on all African leaders at all levels to make concerted efforts in respecting the tenets of democracy and the rule of law, to ensure political stability on the continent.”
Reiterating that Africa has no intention of regressing on its democratic gains and credentials, as well as its maturing democratic political culture, President Tinubu said: “I call on all Afro-centric supranational organizations, especially the African Union, the various Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms, to individually and collectively adopt Protocols on democracy and good governance, and ensure their effective implementation.”
While conceding that democracy may create management and dynamics issues, President Tinubu emphasized that it is the finest form of governance for Africa in the twenty-first century.
The ECOWAS chairman asked the United Nations to take a hard stance against military coups, emphasizing the need to disincentivize them.
”It is my view that while grappling with the challenges caused by the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and other geostrategic tragedies, including insecurity and climate change amongst others, African leaders must disincentivize coups d’état.
”The United Nations must also stand firm and unyielding in its opposition to military coups,” he said.
He also stated that democracy and development are inextricably linked in accomplishing long-term goals and the African vision and that adherence to democratic values and governance is critical for long-term peace, security, and economic prosperity.
President Tinubu stated his willingness to collaborate with the United Nations Development Programme and other development partners to advance the cause of democracy on the African continent.
The Nigerian president thanked UNDP for inviting him to offer a goodwill message at the occasion and assured the organization of his commitment to combating 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.
He also commended the UNDP for launching its flagship report “Soldiers and Citizens: Military Coups and the Need for Democratic Renewal in Africa,” stating that the military has no place in the governance of the 21st Century Africa.
