The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will hold Russia to account if the Wagner Group, a private military contractor of the Eastern European nation, violates human rights in the wake of the Niger coup, an official of the West African bloc has said.

The ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, who made a live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily Friday, noted that another West African nation had a separate arrangement with the security outfit.

“The Wagner Group, apparently, is in Mali today. The Malian government says this is an agreement between them and the Russian Federation,” Musah said.

“We want to take them by their word, which means any sort of action that infringes on human rights or yeah, or devastation in our region by these private military contractors, we are going to hold the other countries of our region responsible for that.” The West African region is just not Russia.” Musah stated that private military companies had been a feature of the African conflict scene for years.


“Private military companies were involved in Sierra Leone. They were involved in Liberia during those civil wars, long ago. And even recently in the global conflict, there has been the use of private military companies,” he said.

“The Americans are using them in Iraq; in Afghanistan, they use them, and others. What we are seeing is that these groups are not acceptable in Africa, even though they are there and we are going to hold their countries of origin responsible for any violations.”

The ECOWAS commissioner also highlighted the current involvement of the Western forces in Niger, including France and the European Union (EU), adding that the region had also seen an influx of Middle Eastern nations such as Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, in like Russia and China.

“What we are saying is that we are not going to allow West Africa to be an arena of proxy wars again. And that is our attitude to Wagner. It is not our option,” he said.

“We do not want private military companies interfering in the conflict environment in the region because we know the consequences of their action.”

https://www.channelstv.com/2023/08/11/niger-coup-ecowas-vows-to-hold-russia-responsible-if-wagner-violates-human-rights/

Rayban25:
how do you intend on holding them responsible?

you go carry them go hague based on war crimes??

lastly, who goes ecowas?

BoldBrainz:


.

Who goes ECOWAS?!

FreeStuffsNG:


“What we are saying is that we are not going to allow West Africa to be an arena of proxy wars again. And that is our attitude to Wagner. It is not our option,” he said.

“We do not want private military companies interfering in the conflict environment in the region because we know the consequences of their action.”

IhateYouMan:


Too late. It is going to a very brutal proxy war.

Nonexisting1:
ECOWAS will fight Russia with a strong fist. Meanwhile, ECOWAS strong fist right now.

FreeStuffsNG:
There will be no war in Niger. Niger is already decimated with stringent potent economic sanctions.

After Niger, Ecowas is coming for Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea to restore constitutional order. They gave ample time to Mali to return to democracy yet the Jihadists have not stopped gaining more ground and Wagner is not in the combat. They are combat trainers only unlike the French who sent in combatants. Mali is a stark reality of why Ecowas must not wait any longer. They wasted too much time with Mali coupists and they have nothing to show as gains

001Lagos:
Which Ecowas ?

You mean the clownish ECOWAS headed by Ebola Ahmed Tinubu?

Lol 😂😆😂 😂😆😂

Putin is Wagner and Wagner is Putin

Those saying that Putin won't interfer had better have a rethink 😂

Skyview01:
I trust ECOWAS. Putin is SHAKING right now!

DrGoodman:


The day Asari will capture putin and drag him to Rivers state in chains ⛓

BoldBrainz:
God abeg, see my hands for up o!

Who send these ones to go dey warn Russia na?

Combined strength of the US, UK and more than 30 other countries never fit "hold Russia to account" over the happenings in Ukraine, na pot-bellied West African politicians wan begin raise shoulders .

No be their electorates send them on this suicide mission o!

FreeStuffsNG:
There will be no war in Niger. Niger is already decimated with stringent potent economic sanctions.

After Niger, Ecowas is coming for Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea to restore constitutional order. They gave ample time to Mali to return to democracy because of the jihadists that
want to run over Mali yet the Jihadists have not stopped gaining more ground in Mali and Wagner is not in the combat. They are combat trainers only unlike the French who sent in combatants.

Mali is a stark reality of why Ecowas must not wait any longer. They wasted too much time with Mali coupists and they have nothing to show as gains

SeeThisLoser:




“What we are saying is that we are not going to allow West Africa to be an arena of proxy wars again. And that is our attitude to Wagner. It is not our option,” he said.

“We do not want private military companies interfering in the conflict environment in the region because we know the consequences of their action.”