AES Withdrawal from ECOWAS: President TINUBU and his government drive the point home
In the matter of the withdrawal of Sahel Alliance (AES) countries from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Nigerian President President TINUBU and current Chair of the West African organization has officially reacted the day after the joint announcement on Sunday, January 28, 2024.
According to information, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Monday that it regrets this decision coming from « unelected military leaders ». President Bola Tinubu and his government claim that these military regimes, through their actions, deny their people the sovereign right to make fundamental choices regarding freedoms such as movement, trade, and the election of their own leaders.
However, ECOWAS was the first to strip these countries of this sovereign right of choice when it decided to isolate them from the rest of the West African space, disregarding the will of the people to free themselves from the yoke of corrupt and incapable presidents.
The regional organization was the first to dismiss the principles of unity, fraternity, solidarity, and sharing that should guide its actions. Transition presidents, labeled as « unelected », are seen as leaders who perfectly respond to the aspirations of their people and ardently fight to protect them from imperialist and terrorist enemies.
Hence, these leaders enjoy unwavering support from their compatriots. At a time when the AU and ECOWAS commissions call for fraternal dialogue, the country holding the presidency of the community organization exacerbates the situation with denigrating and provocative remarks.
It is worth recalling that President Tinubu had already referred to the AES as a phantom alliance, anti-democracy, and good governance. These assertions do not favor unity or sincere and fraternal dialogue.
