President Bola Tinubu has strongly condemned the recent military coups in Africa, describing them as wrong and not representative of the collective aspirations of African people. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA, Tinubu stated that the prevalence of coups in Africa signifies a demand for solutions to longstanding problems and does not imply support for unconstitutional changes of government.
Tinubu emphasized the importance of democratic governance as the best guarantor of the sovereign will and well-being of the people. He condemned military coups as well as any civilian political arrangement that perpetuates injustice.
He mentioned the recent military coups in Niger and Gabon and noted that Africa has witnessed a significant number of coups since 1950. Tinubu argued that the wave of coups across parts of Africa is a call for solutions to persistent challenges.
Regarding Niger, where he serves as Chairman of ECOWAS, Tinubu called for support from sister countries in the region. He expressed a commitment to re-establishing democratic governance in Niger while addressing the political and economic challenges facing the nation.
Tinubu also highlighted the issue of human trafficking and the flow of violent extremists in the region, emphasizing that these challenges undermine peace and stability in the area. He called on African nations to improve their economies to deter their citizens from seeking opportunities abroad and to disband extremist groups operating in the region.
Furthermore, Tinubu warned about the looting of Africa’s mineral resources, which poses threats to peace and national security. He urged the international community to cooperate in preventing the pillage of Africa’s riches by foreign entities and local criminals.
In his address, Tinubu presented a comprehensive perspective on the challenges facing Africa, emphasizing the importance of democracy, economic development, and international collaboration in addressing these issues.