Niger Coup: African Religious Leaders Meeting In Nairobi Denounce Military Intervention

• The African religious leaders pointed out the threat that the Niger crisis poses to the entire West African region as well as the continent’s economic crisis
• Bishop Laurent Dabire (Burkina Faso) kicked against plans by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deploy military personnel against Niger's military junta
• The faith leaders meeting Elysian Resort called upon both parties to wake up to their responsibility by preventing Niger from going into a needless war

Nairobi – A group of religious leaders meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, has aired its views on the ongoing coup d’état in Niger.

The religious leaders pointed out the threat that the crisis poses to the entire West African region as well as the continent’s economic crisis.

For instance, Bishop Laurent Dabire of Dori Diocese in Burkina Faso and his Malian counterpart Florent Kone of San Diocese kicked against plans by Nigerian president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deploy military personnel against Niger military junta.

African religious leaders oppose Niger military intervention

TUKO.co.ke understands that Tinubu was elected as chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday, July 9, 2023.

“We as a conference of religious leaders from West Africa are against any military intervention to any crisis, Niger included. We have already responded to the ECOWAS and told them clearly that we are against the military intervention in Niger,” Dabire said.

Addressing the press on Tuesday, August 8, after day two of their deliberations, the faith leaders instead called upon both parties to wake up to their responsibility by preventing the country from going into a needless war.

“Mali has experienced a coup, same to Burkina Faso, Guinea, and now Niger. All these coups arise from bad governance. As religious leaders, we are calling for attention so that we can establish a common good,” said Dabire.

Dabire further observed that the responsibility of the church is to join hands with the people for a faster transition to peace and calmness so that the situation can return to normalcy.

“Our message is clear that the church does not support any coup d’état but it supports all the other processes of restoring normalcy, calmness, and peace,” Dabire explained.

On his part, Kone revealed that in West Africa, they have a conference of Anglophone and Francophone religious leaders working together to solve such conflicts.

“We are carrying this message of peace as a united people and calling upon nations that are experiencing similar conflicts to promote peace by embracing programmes that call for peace and normalcy,” Kone said.

What are the consequences of the Niger crisis

The Forum, which rose from a meeting organised by Caritas Africa in partnership with the Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa (JENA) and Jubilee USA Network, further said a war between the duo countries would harm friendship, cause economic hardship, worsen the humanitarian crisis, and leave hard-to-heal wounds on each party.

Under the theme, “Africa Inclusive and Sustainable Recovery”, the participants who comprise Catholic and other Christian Faith Denominations, Muslim and Indigenous Religions at the three-day meeting at Elysian Resort in Nairobi are also discussing how best they can amplify the interfaith voice in addressing the various crises that different African countries are grappling with.

Citing some of the consequences of the economic crisis including a period of protests in Kenya, and the coup in Niger, the group said that the meeting will also reflect on how Africa can emerge better from such crises.

What Mali and Burkina Faso said about the Niger crisis

In a related story, TUKO.co.ke earlier reported that two military-controlled West African neighbours, Mali, and Burkina Faso warned against foreign military interference in the recent military takeover of the Republic of Niger.

Mali and Burkina Faso observed that they are solidly behind General Abdourahamane Tchiani, who toppled President Mohamed Bazoum out of government.

As reported by Africa News, both nations noted that it would be considered a declaration of war in the event of foreign military intervention.

The warning was on the heels of the seven-day deadline issued by Tinubu, urging that Bazoum be freed from the captivity of the rebel leaders and restore power to civilians.

ECOWAS had warned that there would be military intervention and sanctions if the instructions were not followed within the stipulated period.