- "So the way forward for me is that when these things happen, ECOWAS must help those countries to step up and get a workable constitution which will help the country, rather than insipid sanctions which do not work."
Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, the dean at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College has called on ECOWAS to support member countries to revise their constitutions in the event of coups rather than imposing sanctions on them.
His comment comes after President Roch Kabore of Burkina Faso was detained over the weekend at a military camp by some soldiers.
Speaking to Kwaku Nhyira-Addo on The Asaase Breakfast Show Wednesday (26 January), Antwi-Danso said the sanctioning of member states in the event of coups has not yielded the needed results.
“For example the ECOWAS sanction, …how is the implementation helping to solve the unconstitutional change of government. In those protocols I am telling you about, there is very little about civilians who disobey their constitution.”
“So the way forward for me is that when these things happen, ECOWAS must help those countries to step up and get a workable constitution which will help the country, rather than insipid sanctions which do not work.
“Because in Mali, in Guinea, Burkina Faso and elsewhere when you press so hard with your punishment, the people suffer and the country loses. If the junta feels that they are empty, they will be repressive… so we must look at these things,” the international relations expert said.
The situation in Burkina Faso
The president of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, has reportedly been detained by mutinying soldiers.
Filmed footage from the capital appears to show armoured vehicles – reportedly used by the presidency – peppered with bulletholes and abandoned in the street.
Simon Gongo, the BBC’s reporter in Ouagadougou, says the city is quiet again. However, soldiers have surrounded the headquarters of the state television station.
Hundreds of people had come out in support of the soldiers despite a government-imposed curfew. Some of them set fire to the ruling party’s headquarters.
The unrest comes a week after 11 soldiers were arrested for allegedly plotting a coup.
But discontent has been growing in Burkina Faso over the government’s failure to eliminate an Islamist insurgency in the country since 2015.
That escalated to new highs in November, when 53 people were killed by suspected jihadists. And on Saturday, a banned rally to protest against the government’s perceived failure led to dozens of arrests.
Echoes from Mali
Similar troubles in neighbouring Mali led to a military coup in May 2021 – one that was broadly welcomed by the public.
In Burkina Faso, mutinying soldiers have made several demands, including the removal of the army chief of staff and the head of the intelligence service, more troops to be deployed to the front line, and better conditions for the wounded and soldiers’ families.
On Sunday, the defence minister, General Barthélémy Simporé, downplayed previous rumours of the president’s capture and descriptions of the nature of the unrest at large.
Meanwhile, state television had characterised the sound of gunfire at military barracks as the actions of a few disgruntled soldiers, rather than a widespread fight or coup attempt.
On Monday, amid disruptions to internet service, much confusion remained in the capital, with no clear statement published by either side.
Fred Dzakpata
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