Military Coup: Forum Urges Speedy Return Of Democratic Governance In Guinea

Posted by Eric Ojo African News, Featured, Latest Headlines Wednesday, September 8th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Piqued by the recent military coup in Guinea, the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) has called for speedy return of democratic governance in strict compliance with the constitution of the Republic of Guinea as well as all applicable laws.

WACSOF gave the charge in statement while condemning the September 5 military coup which led to the arrest of the elected President, Alpha Condé as well as the dissolution of the government and parliament of the Republic of Guinea.

With more than 1000 Member Organizations, WACSOF is the umbrella network of the Civil Society in West Africa, covering 18 thematic areas, with representation in 15 countries of Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS).

Moreover, the forum is also the channel for institutionalized dialogue between civil society organizations and ECOWAS. It builds capacity, advocates, mobilizes civil society, engages in the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies for a prosperous, stable and peaceful Africa.

The group also expressed its concern about the suffering of the people of Guinea and called on ECOWAS and all the stakeholders of the Guinean crisis to ensure peace in the West Africa nation by favoring the methods of peaceful resolution of disputes which are good offices, mediation, conciliation and facilitation based on dialogue, negotiation and arbitration.

The forum further drew attention to the provisions of Article 1 (e) of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance which stipulates that “the armed forces must be apolitical and must be under the command of a legally constituted political authority; no serving member of the armed forces may seek to run for elective political”.

They equally reminded ECOWAS Member States of the absolute need to comply with laws and regulations on democracy and good governance in which they are bound by, adding that laws such as the ‘ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance’ and the ‘African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Good Governance (ACDEG)’ shall be respected without any compromise.

“WACSOF is calling on the ECOWAS Commission and the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government for the establishment of a true culture of democratic and good governance within ECOWAS member states, and to put an end to the tendency of abuse of power, shrinkage of civic space, corruption, and the propensity to manipulate constitutions in the search for more than two (2) terms”, the group said.

The forum also harped on the need for ECOWAS Commission and the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government to take into account the unjustified and unacceptable suffering of the people of Guinea, in any potential sanctions.

According to them, only people who are guilty or complicit in unconstitutional change of government can and should be subject to sanction in accordance with the ECOWAS Additional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Good Governance.

“WACSOF strongly appeals to ECOWAS Commission and the Authority of Heads of State to strive to be better connected to citizens and to actively involve citizens and civil society in decision-making and in dispute resolution processes. Such approach will on the one hand ensure that citizens feel involved and considered, which would reduce frustrations and revolts; and on the other hand, will promote the effectiveness of an ECOWAS OF PEOPLES and not only that of States, as expressed in its VISION 2020.

“WACSOF is available to contribute, alongside ECOWAS, the people of Guinea and any stakeholder, to a rapid return to constitutional order, peace, economic development and social cohesion”, they further stated.