A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) have launched a programme to prevent unconstitutional government changes in West Africa.
In a communique issued after the launch of the programme on Wednesday, the consortium said the initiative, titled the “Regional Citizen’s Dialogue Programme (RCDP), was necessitated by the recent surge in unconstitutional changes of government in the sub-region. The consortium emphasised that such changes pose a significant threat to the political stability and democratic progress in West Africa.
While calling for dialogue and diplomacy with countries in political transition, the consortium recognised the significance of engaging religious actors, traditional leaders, and the media in changing the narrative and influencing attitudes towards entrenching African democracy.
Parts of the communique read; “This troubling trend, evidenced by military takeovers and the overthrow of democratically elected governments has cast a shadow over the achievements in democratisation, including the development of political and security institutions, electoral processes, and the safeguarding of freedoms and democratic rights amongst others.
“Furthermore, this trend jeopardises regional and global efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism in sub-regions like the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin.
“The RCDP is an attempt by CSOs to support the operationalisation of the AU Accra Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government (UCG) in Africa (March 2022), and the Malabo Declaration on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa, adopted at the 16th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Head of States on May 22, 2022.”
