Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu this Wednesday attributed the “wave” of coups in Africa to what he considered “a search for solutions to perennial problems,” he said during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly.
“The wave of coups in Africa is not a demonstration of support for coups, it is a demand for solutions to perennial problems,” said the Nigerian Head of State and Acting President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). ), which confirms contacts with the military junta that took power in Niger on July 26 with the aim of restoring “democratic governance” in that country.
“We must recognize democratic governments as the best guarantor of the sovereign will and well-being of the people. Military coups are wrong and generate injustice regardless of the type of political arrangement that results,” Tinubu said.
Negotiations with Niger, the Nigerian president said, include addressing the “political and economic challenges facing the country, including the actions of violent extremists, which are fueling instability in the region.”
“Our region is affected by a long-term struggle against violent extremism. In this context, a dark channel of inhumane trafficking has emerged. Everything is for sale along this route. Women, men and children are seen as slaves,” Tinubu denounced.
“Despite this, thousands of people risk crossing the hot sands of the Sahara and the cold depths of the Mediterranean in search of a better life, while mercenaries and extremists with deadly weapons and vile ideologies invade our region from the north,” he said. , in reference to the increase in migration flows on the continent.
This “harmful trade endangers peace and stability in the entire region,” he said.
“African countries will improve their economies so that our people do not risk their lives to clean the floors and streets of other countries. We must also commit to dismantling extremist groups operating in our areas,” he added.
“To combat this threat, the international community must strengthen its commitment to ending the flow of weapons and violent people into West Africa,” Bola Tinubu stressed.
“Many statements have been made, but our problems remain. Failures in good governance have harmed Africa, but broken promises, unfair treatment and outright exploitation from abroad have also seriously damaged our ability to make progress,” the head of state said.
“Due to long-standing internal and external factors, the economic structures of Nigeria and Africa have been distorted, hampering development, industrial expansion, job creation and equitable distribution of wealth,” he lamented.
Another important aspect of international trust and solidarity is the “protection of the continent’s mineral zones from plunder and conflict,” Tinubu added.
“Many of these areas have become catacombs of misery and exploitation,” he denounced.
“The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRCongo) has suffered from this for decades, despite the strong UN presence in the country. The global economy owes a lot to DRCongo, but gives it very little,” he emphasized.
On the other hand“Chaos in resource-rich areas does not respect national borders: Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic,” are examples listed by the Nigerian president, “and the list goes on,” he added to.
“Trouble is also knocking at Nigeria’s door. Foreign entities, backed by local criminals who aspire to be petty ‘warlords,’ have forced thousands of people into slavery to illegally extract gold and other resources,” he said, criticizing the fact that “billions of dollars meant to improve the nation now fuels violent causes.”
Source: DN
