In this edition of Weekly Top News, the surprise coup in Niger ousting President Mohammed Bazoum is our focus.

The military takeover is the fifth successful coup in the West African nation’s history since it gained independence from France in 1960, with other unsuccessful attempts in between.
The coup in Niger makes the country the fourth to be ruled by the military after MALI, BURKINA FASO and GUINEA.

For many political watchers, putting the military permanently in the barracks without interfering in the governance may remain a mirage, especially in West Africa.

What then is the worth of the ECOWAS institution and the regional body AU? Will there be an end to the interruption of democracy in the subregion and how does this improve the economic wellbeing of the people?

Let’s make sense of these issues…my guests are Austin Aigbe, a governance and democracy expert and Dr Ken Uhaoha, an Expert in ECOWAS and trade matters.