A peacebuilding think tank, Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro has called on the president of Russia’s federation, Vlamadin Putin to align with the position of Africa Union and ECOWAS against military coup plotters in Niger Republic.
PeacePro also noted that, the wide support enjoyed by Russia in Africa may quickly become hostility, if President Putin and the Russia federation undermines the position of AU and ECOWAS that are determined to uphold rule of law and silence barrel of gun on the continent.
In a statement by the Executive Director of PeacePro, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group stated that Russia is now facing a test of loyalty on the continent of Africa, whether it would align with Africa as a whole to uphold rule of law and ensure stability in the subregion or it would seek to exploit the situation by supporting subversion.
According to Hamzat, President Putin should understand that new leadership of ECOWAS under the leadership of Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will assess Russia’s commitment to the continental stability based on it decision on Niger Republic and it would be in Russia’s long term interest to engage in positive diplomacy.
Hamzat is of the view that, Africa is the most friendly continent to Russia and this friendship was demonstrated over the Ukraine’s situation, where half of the continent didn’t throw Russia under the bus over security concerns in Moscow despite immense pressure and it is now time for Russia to demonstrate its loyalty to the continent for similar security reasons.
He concluded that the leadership of AU and ECOWAS should also engage Russia, as part of their diplomatic efforts to end military coup in the continent.
