AFRICA: Prof Lumumba Analyzes ECOWAS Resolve As Mali, Niger, Guinea, Others Toe Nkrumah, Keita’s Path

Following the resolve of the Economic Community of West African States on the military coups in Niger Republic, Niger, and Burkina Faso, a renowned Professor, Patrick Lumumba has defined the decision as a metaphorical gunboat diplomacy.

Prof. Lumumba stated this while applauding the resolve of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea on the third of December, 2023 saying it is what Africa needs for Africa to begin to enter a confederal arrangement.

In his words, Prof. Lumumba said:
“When I listen to ECOWAS through the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu saying; we are going to invade you, I know that they were simply engaged in what metaphorically defined as gunboat diplomacy.

“But the resolve that emanated from Burkina Faso, the resolve that emanated from Guinea Miami Conakry, and also from Niamey, Niger was quite clear that we are going to defend ourselves and it’s not going to be a cakewalk.

“It’s going to be difficult if you choose to invade. And I think that the decision that they made to quickly coalesce and quickly say that an attack on Niger is an attack on Guinea, it’s an attack on Burkina Faso, and it is an attack on Guinea. And you can see that it’s not something that is informed by mere impulse.

“On the third of December, 2023, they met and have now declared that they are going to form a confederation. This is very Nkrumahist. It is the same thing that Kwame Nkrumah and Modibo Keita were talking about. And this movement in the Sahel could very well be the mustard seed that Africa needs for Africa to begin to enter confederal arrangements. And this may snowball into a confederal government and it ought to be supported.

“It is not going to be easy. There are going to be headwinds. Those who never want Africa to unite are going to support insurgencies in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry, and Niger to ensure that this particular project is a stillbirth. But this time around, I think the resolve is deep and great.”