Niger: Office of His Eminence, diplomats call for inclusive dialogue for peace

National Peace Council members, led by His Eminence Dr. Kennedy Waningu (left), the President for Africa and Provost, International College of Peace Studies (ICOPS), and peace ambassadors, pose for a photo after giving a press briefing on the state of peace in Niger, where they called for diplomatic negotiations. PHOTO/Courtesy.
National Peace Council members, led by His Eminence Dr. Kennedy Waningu (left), the President for Africa and Provost, International College of Peace Studies (ICOPS), and peace ambassadors, pose for a photo after giving a press briefing on the state of peace in Niger, where they called for diplomatic negotiations. PHOTO/Courtesy.
  • On July 26, 2023, members of the presidential guard ousted Niger’s democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, before the military junta took over the West African country’s leadership.  
  • Fears are that if such instances of coups aren’t tamed, more countries, as already evident, will copy the approach, triggering a continued resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in Africa.
  • Different global and international diplomatic and peace-driven organizations, foreign and African governments and entities have been involved in efforts to restore peace in the developing country.

For decades, Africa has been experiencing internal conflicts and coup d’états, which have always shaken peace in not only the affected countries, but also those around them, the entire continent, and also crippling developments therein.

In context

On July 26, 2023, members of the presidential guard ousted Niger’s democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, before the military junta took over the West African country’s leadership.  

Since the day he was deposed from power, he has remained under house arrest with his wife and son in the presidential compound in Niamey, Niger’s Capital.

Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s recently-ousted President, speaks in a presidential panel during Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on June 14, 2022. PHOTO/Reuters/Luc Gnago.

Upon seizing power, the military personnel named a 21-person Cabinet, incorporating both civilians and military officers, and they have also been threatening to execute Bazoum for “high treason”.

Different global and international diplomatic and peace-driven organizations, foreign and African governments and entities have been involved in efforts to restore peace in the developing country, whose population stands at around 25 million people.

Towards diplomatic solutions

On August 18, 2023, the Office of His Eminence, Dr. Kennedy Waningu, the President for Africa and Provost, International College of Peace Studies (ICOPS), led humanitarian diplomats and peace ambassadors from Africa in holding a prayer and deliberation meet-up on the diplomatic and humanitarian moves required to restore peace in Niger.

Prayer for Niger. SCREENGRAB/Courtesy.

This follows previous sessions and programs by the institution and its partners to promote peace, including the Peace Ribbon Tour launched in Kenya recently.

Under the Global Peace Signature, Women for Peace Africa members held a Women of Peace Program earlier this month, led by Joyce Mwikali. They have been giving their voice on matters peace in Africa and beyond through their peace walks, with the latest having been done in Nairobi.

Peace ambassador Joyce Mwikali (in white) leads Women for Peace Africa members for a peace walk in Nairobi recently. PHOTO/Courtesy.
International College of Peace Studies fraternity leads the peace-ribbon launch event in Nairobi in May 2023. PHOTO/ICPS.

The prayer and consultative meeting was attended by members from the Office of His Eminence, church leaders, the Global Peace Signature, National Peace Council, Women for Peace Africa, and other thought-leaders, diplomats and change-makers from across Africa and beyond.

Giving his sentiments, Henry Gitonga, Ambassador for Peace from the Kingdom of Lesotho, “Peace is not peace until all of us have it and experience it. Niger and Africa need the intervention of organizations like this one, and this is the time we need to come out and take action,” he said.

He championed the need to elevate peace to the pinnacle of our engagements as individuals, countries, and continents.

Call for dialogue

In an earlier meeting and press briefing under the auspices of Global Peace Signature, peace diplomats, church leaders, academicians, ambassadors of goodwill, and other leaders from various places expressed dissatisfaction and concern with the unfortunate events in Niger.

“We call for dialogue and conflict resolution for West African countries, especially Niger. We also ask the international community to look for an amicable and peaceful way to resolving the crisis in Niger,” said Dr. Kennedy Waningu.

His Eminence, Dr. Kennedy Waningu, the President for Africa and Provost, International College of Peace Studies (ICOAPS), join other members to call for peace and diplomacy in Niger. PHOTO/Courtesy.

Joining the virtual peace meet-up from Zimbabwe, Bishop Never Muparutsa, Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe and the country’s Peace Ambassador, informed the participants that he has already met leaders of the political parties in Zimbabwe, where they signed a peace agreement to eradicate violence in the country.

“We must be available as the people of choice to bring solutions,” he said, noting that now geo-political conflict jeopardizes the peace of entire Africa.

He noted that peacemakers must first be in a clear understanding of what’s happening for them to take solutions to Niger and elsewhere whenever needed.

Bishop Muparutsa envisioned the possibility of having fruitful negotiations with Niger’s political and military leadership if done outside Niger, where all parties freely air their grievances and afford a win-win situation.

Bishop Never Muparutsa, Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe and the country’s Peace Ambassador. PHOTO/Courtesy.

He underscored the need for peace diplomats to overcome biasness and the need for peace guarantors for the nation, who would ensure a seamless pursuit of peace even after the diplomatic negotiations.

A Secretariat

The thought leader further urged the office of His Eminence Dr. Waningu and ICOPS to constitute a Secretariat to work on a peace proposal for Niger and look into the financial implications of the upcoming engagements.

Worth noting is that shortly before the July coup, Europe and the United States had streamed hundreds of millions of dollars to support Niger’s military towards fighting Jihad insurgency closely linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

Bishop Dr. John Shusho from Tanzania noted that African’s eyes have been opened to the fact that they no longer enjoy the resources of their countries.

“If untamed, this will not stop with Niger, but will run across Africa,” he observed, concerning the unrest.

Dr. Shusho also noted that Peace Ambassadors and Humanitarian Diplomats should be involved in the fast-approaching fifteenth BRICS Summit in South Africa on Aug 22-24, 2023, to offer their skills in realizing peace and positive influence towards cohesion in Africa and the world.

“Let’s come together as members of the clergy and peace ambassadors and send a message that we don’t need bloodshed in Africa. No solution has been brought by use of guns, but dialogue will bring solutions,” he commented.  

Massaje Banda, Peace Ambassador for Zambia, appreciated Dr. Waningu for standing for peace all along.

What it all means

“The aftermath of the coup holds a high potential for domestic unrest and regional conflict, a surge in military activities, democratic backsliding and restrictions of civil liberties,” he projected, urging the church to pray for peace.

He underlined the need for Africa to unite in such times and always, and escalate conversations of peace and prosperity.

Banda expressed fears that if such instances of coups aren’t tamed, more countries, as already evident, will copy the approach, triggering a continued resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in Africa.

Since 2021, Africa has witnessed nearly ten coups and attempted coups, with most of them happening in West and Central Africa. In 2021 alone, there were four successful military takeovers across Africa – in Chad, Mali, Guinea Bissau and Sudan – up from one in 2020.

Amb. Dominic Obadiah, a trained and certified Peace and Humanitarian Diplomat with the International College of Peace Studies, noted that “Without peace, countries will never flourish, economies will never grow and families will languish in poverty, shame and grief.”

Take responsibility

He challenged the peace ambassadors to be actively involved in peace and diplomatic negotiations for the continent, for it’s their responsibility.

Edinah Kangwana MBS, MHC., a Humanitarian Diplomat, leadership and governance expert, and graduate of ICPS, highlighted that peace is very paramount in the families, countries, and other units of existence which we live in.

Edinah Kangwana giving her remarks during a recent press briefing to call for diplomatic negotiations for Peace in Niger. With her are other peace-makers and international thought leaders. PHOTO/Courtesy.

 “Wherever peace is affected, women and children are the most affected,” she said, calling for peaceful negotiations to restore peace, constitutional sanity and democratic calm in Niger and Africa at large.

According to Frances Lee, President of the International College of Peace at the United States, peace-building and conflict resolution remains key in solving crises threatening peace in Africa and globally.

She also underlined the need to put God first, even as negotiations kick off to solve Niger’s menace.

Leah Waweru, who sits in the National Peace Council, appreciated President Lee and called upon everyone to offer spiritual support to Niger through prayers.

Leah Waweru delivering her remarks during a graduation ceremony of trainees at the International College of Peace Studies recently. PHOTO/ICPS.

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“When conflicts like this arise, conflict resolution measures have to be through diplomatic efforts,” she noted.

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Mr. Makau holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics, Media & Communication from Moi University, Kenya. He is a Columnist and Editor with Scholar Media Africa, with a keen interest in Education, Health, Climate Change, and Literature.

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