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The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has warned that military takeovers in West Africa pose a significant threat to democratic values and regional stability.
Musa while addressing the West African Defence Chiefs meeting in Abuja, on Wednesday said the there is need to stop the threat of coups, which undermine the military’s core responsibilities.
He said: “Recent challenges like the military coups 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.”
The CDS emphasized the importance of collective efforts, intelligence sharing, and cross-border coordination to address these challenges.
General Musa expressed hope that the meeting would help prevent coups and ensure peace and sustainable development for citizens in the West Africa region.
His words: “I am 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 insecurity in our region. It is on this premise that the agenda for this meeting was carefully crafted to focus on critical areas and build on our previous engagements.”
Part of the areas the meeting will address include the proposed Air Force Security Support Mission in Sierra Leone, the activation of the Air Force Standby Force against terrorism, the development of the Air Force Logistics Depot in Sierra Leone, and Air Force Peace Support Operations.
General Musa said terrorism, insurgency, organised crime, violence and unconstitutional government takeovers threaten national security and undermine the socio-economic development of the entire region.
“Your presence here reflects a shared commitment and dedication towards living in a sustainable environment for the safety and well-being of our people,” he told the assembled Defence Chiefs.
“It demonstrates a collective drive to address the various community threats affecting the region through deliberate and concerted collaborative efforts. As leaders in our respective armed forces, we are all aware of the threats that confront our nations and regions.
“These threats include terrorism, insurgency, organised crime, violence, [and] recently, unconstitutional takeover of government and national politics. These challenges not only threaten our national security but also undermine the social fabric and socio-economic development of the entire region.”
