Academics and other experts are set to launch the Regional Citizen’s Dialogue Programme for Preventing and Responding to Unconstitutional Changes of Government in West Africa.

The RCDP, in a statement obtained Monday, noted the initiative, aimed at preventing the undemocratic change of government in the African sub-region, would be launched on February 27 and 28, 2024, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

A number of West African countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea, are led by soldiers following coups in the countries.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in January announced their exit from the Economic Community of West African States.

The first three, struggling with jihadist violence, have grouped within an Alliance of Sahel States.

In the RCDP statement, the Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, Prof. Ayo Omatayo, while expressing concerns over the wave of coups, said the dons came together under the initiative to address the menace.

Omatayo said, “The RCDP is a collaborative effort of a consortium of civil society and research think tanks with leadership drawn from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, the Regional Centre for Governance and Security Policy Initiative, with headquarters based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and the Dantiye Centre for Good Leadership and Journalism, Kano, with support from the International Dialogue Centre, based in Lisbon, Portugal.”

He added, “The regional programme is designed to mobilse and organise civil society contributions towards the prevention, mitigation, and response to incidences of UCG in the West Africa sub-region.”

Also, the Chairperson of the RCGSPI, who doubles as the Chairperson of the African Union Economic Social and Cultural Council, Peace and Security Cluster, Dr. Jonathan Sandy, explained that the rationale for the RCDP was to complement and build synergies with existing initiatives.

Sandy said, “The RCDP is also an attempt by the CSOs to support efforts by the African Union and its partners in the implementation of the main outcomes of the AU Accra Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa (March 2022) and the Malabo Declaration on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa, adopted at the 16th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Head of States on May 22, 2022.”

On his part, the Chairman of the DCLJ, Emeritus Professor Munzali Jibril, stressed that in light of the current developments in the sub-region, “this intervention could not have come at a better time. The Dantiye Centre is particularly excited that this regional initiative would strengthen the voice of civil society, especially the press, in our collective effort to make government and institutions more responsive and accountable.”

International Dialogue Centre Senior Programme Manager for Africa, Agustin Nunez, identified the role of religion in the discourse, noting, “With 80% of the world’s population adhering to a religion, faith communities represent a powerful driver for transformation and change. Religious leaders are uniquely placed in supporting good governance initiatives, as their approaches and perspectives derive from a value-based vision.”

Nunez said religion, in its instituted form, “is part of the voluntary associations which make up civil society, these faith-based organisations have a unique point of view to contribute to the regional and global dialogue and engagements aimed at identifying solutions to the most pressing global challenges, including unconditional changes of government.”

The statement further notes that the ultimate goal of the RCDP is to contribute towards safeguarding constitutional order, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, peace, security, stability and good governance, “as pathways to the achievement of the vision and aspirations of the African Union Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2030 initiative, the AU Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.” (The PUNCH)

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