Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa has urged West African Chiefs of Defence Staff to uphold democratic values across the region.
Speaking at the 42nd Committee of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Gen. Musa highlighted the negative impact of military coups on democracy in West African countries.
He emphasized the need to eliminate the threat of military takeovers, asserting that such actions undermine the core responsibilities of the military profession.
Gen. Musa stressed that armed forces must adhere to democratic principles as outlined in their national constitutions, reinforcing their commitment to democratic governance.
He said, “Recent challenges like the military coup in some countries in the region have had unintended consequences and have threatened our collective democratic values.
“This threat must be destroyed as it negates our core responsibilities as military professionals. Let me, therefore, use this opportunity to emphasise that, as democratic countries, we in the military must uphold democratic values in line with our various constitutions. “
He noted that the meeting would prevent coups and ensure peace and sustainable development for citizens in West Africa.
He said, “I am also optimistic that this meeting will assist us in preventing such abnormalities while strengthening our collective resolve to bring about peace and sustainable development to our people.
“Accordingly, the complexity of this meeting demands that we leverage our collective efforts, share intelligence, and coordinate our efforts across borders if we must solve these challenges.
“Thus, collaboration is paramount, and I encourage you to address both the root causes and symptoms of this security in our region. It is on this premise that the agenda for this meeting was carefully crafted to focus on critical areas and build in for our previous engagements,” Musa said.
He listed some of these critical areas to include the proposed Air Force Security Support Mission in Sierra Leone and the activation of the Air Force Standby Force against terrorism.
“Other issues in line for deliberations are the development of the Air Force Logistics Depot in Sierra Leone and Air Force Peace Support Operations. As we embark on today’s discussions, I must remind us all that your insights and experiences are paramount to support our shared mission,” he said.
Musa added that terrorism, insurgency, organized crime, violence, unconstitutional takeover of government, and threatened national security also undermine the socio-economic development of the entire region.
