Coup: AU is sleeping and Ecowas is snoring - Shehu Sani

ECOWAS leaders

Former Senator Shehu Sani has raised concerns over the recent coup happening in Africa, especially the francophone countries.

On his X handle on Saturday, September 2, Sani was of the view that the African Union is sleeping and the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, is snoring.

He said this following concerns he raised over the family democracy happening in Togo.

According to him, in Togo, a father ruled from 1967 to 2005 and his son ruled from 2005 to date making it 56 years of family rule.

"In Togo, father ruled from 1967 to 2005 and Son is ruling from 2005 to date; that is 56 years of family Democracy. AU is sleeping and Ecowas is snoring," Sani tweeted.

Over the last 3 years, there has been 7 coups that occurred in Africa from August 2020, till the latest that happened on Wednesday, August 27, in Gabon.

In Mali two coups took place in 9 months. On August 18, 2020, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was deposed by the military and a transitional government was formed in October.

However, on May 24, 2021, the military arrested the president and the Prime Minister. Colonel Assimi Goïta was inaugurated in June as transitional president.

Guinea - On September 5, 2021, President Alpha Condé was ousted by a military coup. On October 1, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya emerged as president.

Sudan - On October 25, 2021, a coup led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane chased out the transitional civilian leaders.

Burkina Faso - Two coups took place in 8 months. On January 24, 2022, President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was removed from power by the military and Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was installed as president in February.

However, on September 30, Damiba was deposed from his position by the military, and Captain Ibrahim Traoré took over as transitional president.

Niger - On July 26, 2023, the military led by General Abdourahamane Tiani announced that they had overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum in a live telecast.

This led ECOWAS to announced on August 10 its intention to take other measures against the African country if President Bazoum wasn't restored. There has been ongoing negotiations between Niger and the commission.