ECOWAS And Peace In Mali

The action being taken by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the insurgency in Mali has brought to the fore plans by some extremists to disturb the peace in Africa and impose their views on unsuspecting group of peoples.

For too long some countries, even in Africa, have been made unstable for reasons ranging from political, religious and ethnic differences. These situations in some cases have resulted in genocide and created refugees problems, while the world did nothing because the world considered such crises as the internal affairs of such countries.

That is why steps being taken by ECOWAS to stamp out the growing crisis in northern Mali, where Moslem fundamentalists are building a base that is capable of affecting the whole of West Africa and beyond, has become very commendable.

Already, Nigeria has sent troops to Bamako and we have no doubt that other member nations will do the same and ensure that no space was left for these elements whose desire is to cause mass death and destruction of the hard earned civilization in the continent.

We are also aware that France has already started military operations in Mali, partly, because of the killing of a French Agent. But for the desired clinical finishing, France and ECOWAS authorities must cooperate and work in ways that refugees situation are not created.

While we expect that the good people of the world would henceforth be proactive in dealing with these merchants of death, the political culture of Africa need to be refined and freed from crisis and the shameful sit-tight syndrome by leaders who have nothing more to offer.

Like some other parts of the world, Africa must not lose sight of its problems and seek ways to solve them instead of taking delight in trying to wipe out neighboring tribes, different worshippers and political opponents. Some even go as far as taking instructions  from foreigners to kill sections of their people. This must stop.

Africa should have gone beyond the dark phase it used to be known centuries ago. Apart from problems of famine, ethnic cleansing and under-development, the continent has become an important part of the world that must change and earn the respect of the rest of humanity.

Interestingly, Africa has continued to receive a large chunk of aid from the advanced world every year. Similarly, Africa can benefit from the experiences of the advanced world to grow instead of going through what the others had to deal with to grow. But the black man has failed to leverage on that opportunity.

That is why it pains us that some people would prefer to be known as stooges for some alien religion that encourages them to kill, to hate, to discriminate and to antagonise. It is true that some African countries are making progress but with these group that kill in the name of God, nothing is can be safe.

That is why we commend successive administrations in Nigeria for understanding this fault and actually doing something about it. Without counting any loss, Nigeria was in Libya, Sierra-Leone, Sudan and now Mali in-spite of the failure of South Africa to appreciate sacrifices made for her.

Nigeria has already made a name in peace-keeping operations all over the world. Its interest in the furtherance of global peace is well known because it might have come to the understanding that peace is priceless and that without peace  mankind can make no progress.

The Mali mission is also important because if not addressed now, Mali could become the supply line for the few Boko Haram elements in Nigeria. But not only Nigeria, these people are being led to take by force of arm anyone that appears to make progress either because of the ties they hold with the US or the God they worship.

The Tide is proud of ECOWAS and particularly Nigeria, for taking on these extremists in Mali. We are aware of a few other places that they exist in Africa and the world cannot wait until they assume the status of monsters. The time to stamp out these agents of death is now.

Until the world can come up with a better system of government, the battle against democracy will fail and this will happen because people all over the world want to be free and desire to enjoy economic success.