Coup d’état in West Africa: VP Osinbajo calls for proactive steps

alternative models with a radically new aesthetic appeared." With more than 200 artefacts spread across five sections the first four following a historical timeline, and the fifth focusing on literary traditions of calligraphy and poetry Dragon and Phoenix showcases this history of a fluid global context of artistic and cultural exchanges in earlier times. The exhibition features a diversity of artworks, including paintings, silverware, ceramic, glassware, manuscripts and luxury fabrics, with an international repertoire combining Arab epigraphy, chinoiseries, lotuses, geometrical decoration, dragons, phoenixes and many other fantastic bestiaries. Dragon and Phoenix features artworks from Louvre Abu Dhabi’s collection, as well as loaned objects from Musée national des arts asiatiques – Guimet, Musée du Louvre, Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, Archives nationales, Cité de la céramique – Sèvres et Limoges, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Musée de Cluny – musée national du Moyen Âge, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Musée JacquemartAndré – Institut de France, Musée national de la Renaissance – Château d’Ecouen, Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, and Musée des Tissus de Lyon. The cultural programme for Dragon and Phoenix is a sensory journey across the narrative of the exhibition and will present a variety events and projects including a hand-picked selection of weekend film screenings and Dragon Boats as a new seasonal offering, in addition to the current yoga and kayaking activities at the museum.

Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has called on the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS to take proactive steps to prevent coup d’état in the region, and even on the continent because the unconstitutional seizure of power in any shape or form is simply unacceptable and has no place in the 21st century. A release from the Office of the Vice President said that Prof. Osinbajo stated this while representing President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday at a virtual Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS memberstates on the political developments in the Republics of Guinea and Mali. The meeting, attended by 10 of the ECOWAS leaders alongside others, including representatives from the United Nations, comes after Guinean President Alpha Conde was ousted in a coup d’état in the West African country on September 5. This culminated in his arrest and detention by the country’s military junta, the dissolution of the Guinean Government, suspension of the Constitution, and a military takeover. Nigeria’s stanceStating Nigeria’s position on the development in Guinea, the Vice President said, “I join all well-meaning global leaders to express in the strongest terms the condemnation of the Government of Nigeria of this unconstitutional change of Government; a development that could seriously destabilize the Republic of Guinea. “What happened in Guinea is a brazen disregard for the provisions of ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which clearly states that every accession to power must be made through free, fair and transparent election. “The unconstitutional seizure of power in any shape or form is simply unacceptable,” noting that “four coups within the last few months is a dangerous trend indeed,” in the subregion. ProposalWhile expressing concern, Prof. Osinbajo tabled an idea which the Chairman of ECOWAS and President of Ghana Nana AkufoAddo later described as “a proposal of great weight.” The Nigerian vice president said “we are sliding back to the infamous 60s. Our zero-tolerance for coups is important but clearly insufficient. Are there further steps that we can take to prevent coups d’état? “Could we, for example, work out an understanding with the UN, AU, Commonwealth and possibly, even the development finance institutions we are a part of to act in unity to suspend a country where there has been a seizure of power from all these bodies simultaneously?” Osinbajo noted that it was imperative that countries in the sub-region respect the provisions against unconstitutional accession to power, and to apply it in all instances. He called on “the Authority to immediately invoke the provisions of Article 45 of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance by suspending Guinea from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies and statutory meetings. “We should also take any other necessary punitive measures that will ensure that the military junta does not overstay in power. “We must forestall a repeat of military interventions and the instability it engenders in the West African subregion. In this connection, Nigeria wishes to once again urge all to always respect the principles of democracy and the constitutions of your respective countries.” Solutions to Guinea situation The vice president urged the ECOWAS Commission “to immediately appoint a Mediator to lead the region’s genuine engagement with the military junta, all political actors, and civil society groups in Guinea towards finding a lasting solution that will return the country to democratic rule as soon as possible. “The ECOWAS must use its regional mechanisms efficiently to engage the military junta and if necessary, provide support for them to return the country to normalcy and democratic rule.” Other steps to be taken in finding a lasting solution to the unfortunate development in Guinea, according to him, was for the