Defence Ministers Don’t Declare War – Col. Festus Aboagye On Nitiwul’s Statements Over Niger Coup

An Author, Conflict & Security Analyst, who doubles as a Consultant on UN-AU Joint Planning for AU Peace Support Operations, says the Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, cannot on his own volition deploy troops in support of ECOWAS’ intended military deployment in Niger.

According to him, Defence Ministers do not take such decisions, but rather Presidents.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsfile programme on Saturday, August 12, he said even Presidents before declaring such actions must first consult their Parliaments.

He thus insisted that Mr Nitiwul’s promise to deploy troops to support ECOWAS is baseless.

“Well, first of all, I have challenges and difficulties with the Defence Minister’s statements because since he spoke, we haven’t heard from the president.”

“Defence Minister’s don’t declare war. It is a President who should have first made a strategic statement indicating the orientation of Ghana subject to an outcome of a debate in Parliament,” he said.

Already, the opposition NDC has rejected the decision and described it as hasty and reckless.

The party in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey said the “NDC does not support committing our gallant Ghanaian soldiers to any hasty ill-considered adventure.”

Instead, the party admonished that the regional bloc approaches the situation diplomatically for an amicable solution.

It also urged that the coup makers embrace negotiations for a peaceful resolution of the matter.

“We are of the firm conviction that constructive dialogue and tactful diplomacy must be pursued further. The unfolding situation in Niger requires cool heads, strategic rapprochement and a diplomatic approach which places the wishes of the people of Niger at the center of an amicable resolution.”

“We urge the military leaders to also embrace negotiations and be welcoming of peaceful diplomatic engagements.”

West African nations have approved an armed intervention in Niger “as soon as possible”, the Ivory Coast president says, following a meeting to discuss the coup.

At the meeting, leaders of the Ecowas regional bloc said they had agreed to deploy a “standby” military force.

However, they have not given any details of the size of the force.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu said the use of force would be a “last resort.”

A military junta seized power in Niger on July 26.

Currently, the Chiefs of Defence Staffs of ECOWAS member states are meeting in Accra to strategise on the line of attack.

 

 

 

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