VIEWPOINT IS ON STEMMING THE RISING TIDE OF COUPS IN AFRICA. IT IS WRITTEN BY DAPO FALADE, THE PUBLISHER OF NEWSCOVEN.NG
There have been increasing incursions of men in khakis into the body politic of some countries in the continent, reminiscent of the 1960s and up to the early 90s, when military coups were the fad in Africa.
In quick succession, there have been military putsches, albeit bloodless, in some countries in neighbouring West-African sub-region, as well as in faraway central Africa and northeastern Africa.
Indeed, and quite rightly, the West African sub-region and the Sahel have come to be described as the coup belt, given the high prevalence of coup d’états in the sub-region.
Between 2020 and 2023, the military struck in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger in West Africa, Chad, Gabon in central Africa and Sudan in Northeastern Africa.
In actual fact, the impacts of the coups have, quite expectedly, been receiving wide condemnations and commendations globally.
The coup in Niger republic elicited and is still generating reactions across Africa and outside the continent, more especially as France, Russia and, of late, the United States of America (USA) have shown more than passing interests in the forceful change of government in the affected country.
Within the west African sub-region, the economic community of west African states (ECOWAS) has declared that the military actions in Niger were anti-thetic to democratic norms; hence democracy should be restored by all means, without ruling out the option of using military forces against the coupists.
Those against the coups are quick to say military governments rule the people by decrees; without respect for the rule of law and the judiciary; and that the military is against any form of agitation or protest, either peaceful or otherwise, while those in support have said that one common denominator in most of the recent bloodless coups especially in Niger republic and Gabon is that it was a reaction against long years of bad leadership.
Wikipedia defined a coup d’état as an illegal and overt attempt by the military or other government elites to unseat the incumbent leader by force. on the other hand, it also defined self-coup as an instance when a leader, having come to power through legal means, tries to stay in power through illegal means.
In the continent today, there are quite a number of leaders who have continually perpetrated themselves in office, either as presidents or prime ministers, often by undemocratic and unconstitutional means.
90-year-old president Paul Biya of Cameroon, has been ruling for forty-one years, 81-year-old Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, 44 years; 79-year-old Denis Nguesso of the republic of the Congo (38 years) and 79-year-old Yoweri Museveni of Uganda (37 years).
What really is the interest of the western powers in African affairs? put differently, “Do they have any ulterior motives beyond the need to protect democracy and promote development?
These questions became pertinent, given the duplicity of the actions and reactions of these superpowers to domestic affairs of many so-called independent countries but which are, indeed, still tied to the apron strings of the west.
Going down the memory lane, France, Britain and other European countries came rushing to Nigeria in 1984 to congratulate the then major general Muhammadu Buhari who had successfully toppled the democratically elected civilian government of the late former president Shehu Shagari on 31 December, 1983. what has changed between then and now?
If the western powers are truly interested in the entrenchment of democracy, as they would want us to believe, why are they not interested in the affairs of their business partners in the middle east, where long-term monarchies are holding sway?
Taking a retrogressive step on the heels of the upheavals, two African countries, Uganda and Rwanda, in a purge done with one eye on the future retired their long serving senior military generals and released lifetime packages for them.
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and president Paul Kagame of Rwanda are among the longest living serving presidents in Africa.
Now, the question is: “How many of the military officers can they send into retirement in order for them to retain their holds on their respective countries?
It is in this wise that the Gabonese experience is seen as a torrential current, moving on faster. the wind of change is currently blowing through Africa. which African country is next? what can be done to stem the rising uprisings?
things are extremely too tough and getting difficult by the day in most parts of the African continent. hopelessness is setting in. everywhere is becoming unsafe with the level of despair and suffering, while politicians and elected public office holders flaunt their ill-gotten wealth in the face of the have-nots.
Democratic governments across Africa should wake up to their responsibilities, buckle up, stop toying with the integrity and emotions of their citizens, for all the leaders not to be consumed.
it seems Africans are now determined to take their destinies in their own hands, by taking the bull by the horns, considering the wide jubilation of Gabonese immediately the military took over last month.
African political leaders should begin to do the rightful things and stop being too rigid, greedy, selfish, callous and insensitive to the plights and sufferings of the hapless people they were elected to serve.
In essence, there will not be any moral justification for coup, uprising or upheaval in any country where respect for human dignity, keeping to the provisions of the constitution to enhance the best of human values and entrenchment and promotion of good governance are sacrosanct.
