Concerned about the need to entrench democracy and end the spate of military coups that have troubled the West Africa sub-region since the January 13, 1963, Togolese military coup, regional stakeholders and various international partners have launched the Regional Citizens’ Dialogue Programme (RCDP) – a collaborative initiative focused on tackling the problem.

Stakeholders represented at the RCDP’s launch at Fraser Suites hotel in Abuja emphatically resolved to commence processes towards implementation of an initial four-year programme for mobilizing the populace and monitoring situations to prevent and respond to any likely unconstitutional changes of government in any part of West Africa.

Initiated by a coalition of think tanks and civil society organizations including Nigeria’s National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and the Regional Centre for Governance and Security Policy Initiative which is affiliated with the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), diplomatic representatives from the European Union, Spain, Portugal as well as civil society representatives across the ECOWAS sub-region, along with the Interparty Advisory Council and experts on peace and security from across the continent deliberated and made recommendations.

“This initiative was necessitated by the recent surge in Unconstitutional Changes of Government (UCGs) in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) which has posed significant threats to the political stability and democratic progress in the region; this troubling trend, evidenced by military takeovers and the overthrow of democratically-elected governments has cast a shadow over the achievements in democratization, including the development of political and security institutions, electoral processes, and the safeguarding of freedoms and democratic rights amongst others.

“Furthermore, this trend jeopardizes regional and global efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism in sub-regions like the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin,” they noted in a communiqué that included eight-point recommendation/action points. (The Nation)