Ecowas has a parliament that is still advisory and consultative instead of being legislative. The original aim was to have Ecowas of the people. By now there should have been direct election of Ecowas parliamentarians from member states that will constitute a parliament with legislative powers.
This would have helped to grow democracy in each member state and thus prevent the trail of coups d’état that are happening today. What Ecowas needs are governments, armies, civil services that are loyal to country and people. In that case there would not have been any armed rebellion, nationalist and foreign troops would not have been needed to do the work of legitimate armies.
It is the duty of each Ecowas state to defend and protect the territorial integrity, people and civil authorities of such state. As it stands coupists in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are confronted with rebellions and foreign governments and armies being relied on at the expense of the coffers of such states. Hence the resources of such states will be spent on war rather than providing for the people.
Russia is not the Soviet Union. There is no ideological difference in the war between Ukraine and Russia. The war is fueled by narrow nationalism. All foreign forces coming to Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso are driven by narrow nationalist interest. Hence the military governments of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso should safeguard their sovereignty by going back to the barracks and allow the conduct of free elections for the sovereign .people. They should ensure that the elections that are held are genuine. In this way there will be no need for foreign forces to be in those countries to do what their armies should do.
