The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has expressed concerns about the intention of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) to send troops to restore constitutional order in Niger albeit a last option.
Though the West African bloc has clarified that the use of force will be a last option, many have condemned tabling such an option in the first place.
There has been counter pronouncements from Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea regimes over the decision.
At its meeting in Abuja, Nigeria on Thursday, August 10, the Authority of Heads of State and Government directed the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff of member states to mobilise a stand-by force.
This is an option the sub-regional body is not ruling out as it claims the military regime is not cooperating.
But in a statement issued on Thursday, August 24, the Conference said the idea of an Ecowas military intervention “should not even be contemplated”.
“We should note that already Mali and Burkina Faso have dispatched warplanes to Niger in response to a potential military intervention by ECOWAS,” it said.
“Moreover, Burkina Faso has threatened to withdraw from ECOWAS if the bloc intervenes militarily in Niger.
“In line with the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. John 14:27), we, as a Conference, are opposed to any military intervention against the coup makers in Niger, as this will exacerbate the already precarious situation in that country where civilians such as women, children, aged, weak and vulnerable in society are bearing the biggest brunt of the chaotic situation.”
The Conference advocated diplomacy on the part of Ecowas in handling the crisis.
“This will require further engagements with the coup leaders to discuss a concrete roadmap for the situation.
“The Conference is confident that this approach will enable all parties and the mediators to speedily design long lasting solutions to the situation in Niger.”
Already, the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA), which the Conference is a member of, has called for restraint on the part of Ecowas leaders in resolving the Niger crisis.
The Conference is also urging the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to “refrain from the use of force and likewise urges its colleague leaders to do same”.