RESTORING CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT WITH MILITARY MIGHT: THE ECOWAS DILEMMA
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Date
2023-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Management, Social Sciences, Peace and Conflict Studies (IJMSSPCS)
Abstract
This paper examined the dilemma faced by the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) in utilizing military might to restore democratically elected civilian
governments, particularly in the wake of the resurgence of military rule in the subregion.
Although not a recent phenomenon, the resurgence of military interventions
and unlawful take-over in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and especially in the Niger
Republic have occupied the front burner in many quarters and have re-ignited
scholarly and diplomatic debates on how best such an ugly trend could be arrested. Of
particular interest to this paper is the military option considered by ECOWAS in
restoring civilian governments in the sub-region. Therefore, this article assesses the
short-term and long-term effects of joint military options in restoring civilian
government in West Africa. The article provided a historical background to military
take-over, ECOWAS military interventions in the past, and the consequences of such
actions. The paper posited that ECOWAS must carefully weigh the political, economic,
and security considerations of utilizing military force to restore civilian government
in a sub-region that is volatile and ravaged by mammoth security challenges. Such a
military option would further destabilize the region and cause unconceivable security
and economic challenges. The paper recommends that the diplomatic option should be
embraced while economic sanctions are imposed on the military junta in Niger.
Description
Staff Publication
Keywords
Resurging military intervention,, unlawful take-over,, interventionist’s policy,, civilian government,, ECOWAS