On Saturday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will hold a summit in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, to discuss the exit of three member states and a constitutional crisis in a fourth.
The withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from the regional bloc in January has heightened concerns over the possible spread of insecurity in the Sahel to other parts of West Africa.
Combined, the trio have experienced five coups in the last three years, with the putschists citing the inability of the governments they replaced, to handle the spread of armed groups in the region.
The coups have led to stiff post-coup sanctions from ECOWAS that have angered Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. But it has also triggered a debate about the state of democracy in the region, even as locals in the affected countries seem to have mostly welcomed the military takeovers.
Ahead of the bloc’s meeting, Nigeria’s military chief, General Christopher Musa, spoke to Al Jazeera in Abuja on Tuesday about the unfolding situation in Niger and other matters, including challenges Nigeria is facing in its own battle against armed groups.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
Al Jazeera: What impact has Niger’s exit from ECOWAS had on operations to fight armed groups within the region?
Musa: We have the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad region, comprising Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Nigeria, but because of the issue with Niger, they have pulled out, though not totally because they are still holding onto their area because they know the repercussions. If they pull out, they will be exposed.
We feel we are all Africans – we should never allow Africa to turn into a proxy war region. We cannot afford to do that.
Nigeria has nothing against Niger, Cameroon or Burkina Faso. We all need each other. They cannot do it alone, and we cannot do it alone. Together, we can confront the jihadists, and the jihadists are coming after them. Mali, Burkina Faso,, and Niger have been having hot with the jihadists.
Al Jazeera: Is the military resolution of the crisis against Niger still on the cards?
Musa: Diplomatically, ECOWAS is making efforts to get across to Niger for them to see reasons why they need to return to democracy and return to ECOWAS. That’s why we avoided any military conflict.
There were individuals that wanted military conflict, and we said no. We don’t want our region to be turned into a proxy war area because it will do us no good. Both countries need to remain friends because the enemy we are dealing with is ready to kill anybody.
