The New Wave Of Military Coups In Africa Continent -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

African countries especially those on the west coast are experiencing the resurgence of military intervention in governance through coups and counter coups. Military coups was a phenomenon of the 1960s and 1970s Africa. The 1950s and 1960s witnessed the bulk of African countries getting flag independence from their colonial masters. Then through a combination of factors ranging from ethnicity, corruption and external intervention, the leadership of most of the African countries experienced political instability leading to military coups. Nearly all African countries were under military rule at the dawn of the 1980s until the new world order necessitated by the collapse of Soviet Union intensified campaign for the return civil rule. And since the 1990s almost every African country has returned to civil rule. Some had the ruling military junta transforming into a democracy.

The crusade for the return to civil democracy was based on the unproved hypothesis that the worst form of civil rule is better than the best military rule. It is believed that the return to democracy would make the governments accountable through representation which will bring the government closer to the electorates. It is also believed that the checks and balances inherent in a democratic government would eradicate despotism and dictatorship inherent in a military government. But alas! the reverse seems to be the case. Experiences so far in most African Democracies indicate that the political class in African do not understand the tenets of democracy. Civil rule has proved to be expensive and corrupt-ridden. The so-called civil rule has turned to nightmares to the citizens. The political class seems to have learnt nothing from the mistakes of the past. They live in luxury and opulence at the expense of the tax payers who wallow in abject poverty.

The civilians in power are more corrupt than the jackboot soldiers. Expect for Rwanda, Seychelles Island and maybe South African most African economies are experiencing a down-turn due to mismanagement and corruption. And with poor economy comes crime and social vices, discontent and insecurity. There is high level of unemployment making the youths restlessly seeking ways to emigrate to the Western economies. In most African countries suffering under the throes of corrupt politicians, the citizens literally beg and pray for military intervention. And when it happens you will see the citizens of those countries welcome the military take-over with joy and fanfare.

Clearly, African experiences under the recent democratic rule is worse than the era of the military juntas. The military takes power by force of arm. The civilian politicians replicate their own coup through election rigging. What is democratic in a system that has no transparent way of electing leaders and political representatives? What is democratic in a judicial system that is not independent of political manipulations? And what is democratic in a system that violates the state constitution with impunity?

It is in the light of the foregoing that I view the recent reported military coup d’état in Guinea Bissau as trend that will continue until the political system is reformed accordingly. The coup in Guinea is the ninth reported cases of coup in Africa in the last five years. Just as I have stated earlier, the military intervention is the result of corruption, poor governance and inept leadership unleashed on the people by their political leaders and not necessarily that of inordinate ambition of the khaki boys.

Here is the highlight of some of the reported coups in Africa recently. In 2021, Col. Assimi Goita seized power from the interim President Bah Ndaw in Mali. In April 2021 President Idriss Deby was killed in a military putsch in Chad and his son General Mahamat Idriss Deby took over power. And in September of the same year, in Guinea President Alpha Conde was overthrown by Col. Mamady Doumbouya. Also, in Sudan, in October 2021 there was a military coup led Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan. In 2022, the young and dynamic Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power in Burkina Faso. And almost a year after, in July 2023, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani overthrew the government of President Mohamed Bazoum in Niger. Again, in the Central African country of Gabon, the government of President Ali Bongo was sacked by Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema in 2023. And in Nigeria, there was a suppressed rumor of attempted coup in October this year. And now the coup in Guinea Bissau.

No doubt, these coups and rumors of coups are symptomatic of the fact that the governments in the African continent are not doing well. It will not take a genius to predict that this ugly trend will continue as long as the political class in Africa continue to short-change the people they are supposed to serve.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed 

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com

An actress, social activist, politician

London, UK