The series of mutinies in African countries that are giving way to the deposition of democratically- elected leaders are becoming a recurring decimal. For decades, Africans have had to grapple with bad governance amid nature’s wealthy deposits. The notoriety of elected leaders reneging on their humongous campaign promises has, to a great extent, rendered citizens incapacitated in the face of insecurity, poverty, and economic mismanagement, among others. This has also engendered the loss of confidence in democracy. Contagious coups have therefore become the aftermath of this sullen reality in some African countries, especially the Sahel.
The most recent military takeover in Africa occurred in Gabon, on August 30, 2023, making it the second coup in 2023, and the eighth in West and Central Africa in just three years. Shortly after Ali Bongo was declared winner of the presidential election in the country, a group of military officers announced on national television that they had taken over power, and had placed Bongo – who would have been a third-term president – under house arrest. The military men went on to annul the election results, shutting down borders, and dissolving the democratic government. The announcement propelled a rush of excitement which swelled up in Gabon. The citizen’s eudemonic expression screamed displeasure towards the Bongo family who had governed them for over fifty (50) years.
The toppling of Bongo preceded the Niger coup of July 26, 2023. Until the military took over, Niger was the remaining country in the Central Sahel still practising ‘democracy’. The military junta, led by Col. Major Amadou Abdourahmane, who was the then head of the presidential guard, ousted and detained his principal, President Mohammed Bazoum, over issues bordering on “continuing deterioration of insecurity, poor economic and social governance.” The military also declared closure on air and land borders just like in Gabon.
Similarly, in January 2022, the military in Burkina Faso deposed the administration of Roch Marc Christian Kobore, dissolved the parliament, government and constitution, due to what they described as the president’s ineptitude in managing the deteriorating security situation caused by Islamic insurgents. Of like ilk, Chad and Sudan have had their share of coups in April 2021 and October 2021 respectively. Mali was not left out, the 2020 coup in the country which terminated the administration of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was fueled by insurgency, instability, corruption, and a floundering economy. The implication of these coups on the French Republic is that France has lost its grip on the African continent. Her “queendom” seems to have hit a dead-end.
Significantly, there is a cord binding the coups in Africa. It is a cord which bears the insignia of bad governance, telling the tale of African woes under supposed democracy. This murkiness is not peculiar to one country but a blemish on the cloud of the eight countries struck by military rule. This is the reason any successful coup erupts excitement in the citizens. The fact that the people are always happy with military taking over power and deposing democratic government is ironic. Normally, military rule is dreaded due to its high-handedness and suspension of the constitution. Hence, the saying that the worst democratic government is better than the best military regime.
When Bongo asked Gabonese to make noise after he was deposed and detained, they did. However, the noise was detrimental to him as it turned out to be an opportunity for them to rail at the practice of sham democracy in their country. Gabonese complained of being dominated by the Gabonese Democratic Party for decades without any tangible development to show for it, stating that the party had never won election credibly. They described the Bongo administration as a monarchy in disguise, of which they were saturated.
Citizens of African countries in former French colonies have, with the recurrence of coups, outright and boldly rejected their colonial masters. They have lampooned France for what they described as its role in ensuring African leaders are underperforming, while accusing them of exploiting their natural resources. The blame for instability in their various countries has been heaped on France. Nigeriens in particular stated that despite being an independent state, their country was still indirectly governed by France, until the military takeover. African countries in the Sahel have accused their leaders of being stooges in the hands of the French. They believe the military takeover represents their desire to be truly independent. This could be their reason for lauding and paying allegiance to Russia, while publicly vilifying France. The French on the other hand will likely not let go of its colonies without a fight. The uranium powering France’s nuclear plant comes from Niger Republic; so they would try as much as possible to hold on to that.
Foremost Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe, in his book, The Trouble with Nigeria, observed that “anybody who can say that corruption in Nigeria has not yet become alarming is either a fool, a crook or else does not live in this country.” The same can be said about Africa in general. It will be sheer hypocrisy for African leaders to turn a blind eye on the causes of the coups, while focusing on ensuring democratic stability. The democracy they claim to practise has become a shadow of itself, flawed by rising poverty, poor economic performance, insecurity and unemployment. There is hardly any system of government without pitfalls. The quality of education keeps dwindling as its cost skyrockets. The health sector is in a shambles and political actors have not seen the need to tweak it, having got a better alternative to medical treatment outside the country. Agricultural production has not garnered the needed support from the government, little wonder foods produced within African countries are more expensive than imported ones. The environment, especially where the masses dwell, is unlivable. Insecurity, on the other hand, has made people flee from their home countries to IDP camps in order to be alive. What then can citizens say they have benefited from democracy which has been in practice for decades?
At the moment, existential threat is staring most African countries in the face, especially those sharing boundaries with the Sahel and Gabon. They may be worried about the next country to be affected. Interestingly, international organisations such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Africa Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) have all frowned at the coups and have even sanctioned the affected countries without attempting to address the root causes of the coup. ECOWAS, without the assistance of the UN, went all in, despite having modicum experience as an intervention force. The earlier they realised that the solution to recurring coups is to give citizens the dividends of democracy, the better for all the parties involved. It is laughable how African leaders make leadership look like a herculean task when citizens are not even asking for too much. Since the majority are able to feed, clothe and shelter their families, all they need from the government are good economic policies, security, affordable quality education and healthcare in line with the country’s living wage, good roads, regular supply of potable water and electricity, job opportunities, among others.
The resurgence of coups in African countries is indeed an affront to democracy. It is a threat to the supremacy of elected African leaders. If these leaders sincerely intend to plug the infectiousness of military takeover, they should read the handwriting on the wall, and see the coups as signals redirecting them to bring to bear the tenets of democracy. Leaders ought to wake up to their duties and live in the consciousness that power truly belongs to the people. The equitable distribution of the commonwealth is tantamount to the end of coups and a harbinger of relative peace. Today, some Africans seem very comfortable under military rule, stirring desire in others. However, what their reality may transition into in future is uncertain, as military rule has no trajectory of being the best system of governance. Caution should also be exerted by citizens of countries desirous of military rule as a way out of bad governance. This is because subsequent coups could be strategically planned to install in disguise those whom they consider their tormentors.
Janefrances Chinwe Iwuchukwu is a writer and can be reached via chinweiwuchukwu8@gmail.com
