ECOWAS ‘has nothing against Niger, Mali or Burkina Faso’ — Nigerian military chief – The North Africa Post

African nations ought to unite in opposition to any type of rebellion from jihadists within the Sahel area and different elements of West Africa following the withdrawal of the coup-hit Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS, Nigeria’s navy chief, Basic Christopher Musa has stated.
The withdrawal of the three member states from the regional bloc, coupled with a constitutional disaster in one other, has heightened issues concerning the potential growth of insecurity from the Sahel to different elements of West Africa. This has resulted in widespread concern and escalating tensions among the many affected international locations. Forward of an Financial Neighborhood of West African States (ECOWAS) summit in Nigeria’s capital Abuja on Saturday (24 February), which is predicted to debate the exit of the three member states and a constitutional disaster in a fourth, Nigeria’s navy chief, Basic Christopher Musa, has spoken to the media about insecurity in West Africa.
Basic Musa has emphasised the significance of African solidarity and the necessity to keep away from turning the area right into a proxy conflict zone, urging African nations to unite in opposition to uprisings from jihadists within the Sahel area and different elements of West Africa. “Nigeria has nothing in opposition to Niger, Cameroon or Burkina Faso. All of us want one another. Collectively, we are able to confront the jihadists, and the jihadists are coming after them. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have been having a scorching conflict with the jihadists,” he stated. When requested concerning the navy decision of the disaster in opposition to Niger, Basic Musa defined that “diplomatically, ECOWAS is making efforts to get throughout to Niger for them to see explanation why they should return to democracy and return to ECOWAS.”