Unconstitutional Changes of Governments and Military Coups in Africa: Causes, Challenges, and Solutions to the Problem.

Introduction

Since the 1960s when African countries started attaining independence, Africa’s history is marred by a string of military coups which toppled elected leaders from power. Thousands if not millions of people lost their lives in this era particularly in West African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leonne, and the Ivory Coast, among others. In the early years of the ‘Cold War’ into the 1960s up to its peak in the 1980s, ideological differences and affiliations mostly underlined the nature, scale and intensity of the coups in Africa. Undoubtedly, whilst some military coups were messier than others, others were labelled as ‘soft coups’. However, as the Cold War drew and eventually came to an end in 1990s, going forward most African countries became constitutional democracies and adopted more robust constitutions which saw many military leaders retiring from the military to formally join politics which became a much more needed remedy in breaking the cycle of endless coups on the continent. One good example is the former President of Nigeria, Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, who joined politics from the army and successfully completed his two terms in office from 1999 up to 2007. The new democratic dispensations which swept across Africa progressively prevented the army from getting involved or interfering in politics. This ushered in a new dawn of stability and peace in African which blew in a whiff of the much needed fresh air across the region. This era was celebrated as the ‘End of History’ in which the age of ideology had ended, and the world had only reverted to a normal state of affairs characterized by cultural conflict.[1] Effectively, the days of military coups in Africa had come to an end. For most if not every country in Africa, unconstitutional changes of governments became a thing of the past as the leadership became guided by constitutional term limits and regular elections. This significantly stabilised Africa for quite a considerable time. However, from 2017 when Zimbabwe experienced its first coup since its independence in 1980, other countries such as Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, Gabon and Mali also followed suit bringing the number to at least ten coups in Africa between 2017 and 2023 alone. The possibility that more coups might occur cannot be dismissed. This led writer to put pen on paper and try to unpack the causes, challenges and solutions to this archaic approach to solve socio-economic and political crises on the African continent, with a special and particular interest on West Africa.

Contextual analysis

Even though the 1990s, going forward saw the decrease in military coups, a new cancerous problem paralyzed the African continent. ?The politics of power and accumulation of wealth occupied centre stage. The Presidency in countries such as Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Gabon, Cameroon, among others became occupied by strong men who created oligarchies and established authoritarian regimes which ensured that their wealth and power were protected. For example, Gabon was ruled by Omar Bongo for 42 years who in turn passed on the button to his son, Ali Bongo, who remained in office for another 14 years until he was deposed through a coup in 2023[2] to end a 55 year stint of the Bongo dynasty in power. Once the Presidency evolves into a dynasty, the possibility that the government fails to address the needs and meet the expectations of the masses becomes exponentially high. Corruption also increases as the country is run as a private entity or family business. This also defeats the purpose of having periodic elections and other democratic processes due to State capture. State resources and institutions become a vehicle for self-preservation and self-aggrandizement for people in power. Consolidation of power and accumulation of wealth (looting) occupies centre stage at the expense of national development. Elections increasingly become nothing short of a cosmetic event to sanitise and prolong political leaders’ stay in power through rigging, whilst social, economic and political problems intensify. Over the past few years there has been a notable increase in the youth population which is popularly referred to as the ‘youth bulge’. It is reported that the youth now make up about 60% of Africa’s population[3], yet they are most disenfranchised and marginalized group in the social, economic and political spheres. Most people in Africa are wallowing in abject poverty and economic hardships of unimaginable proportions. Due to the glaringly evident lack of development, increase in poverty and inequality between the ordinary people and elite in most African countries, frustration among the masses has been on the rise.

However, before one delves into the finer details of my analysis, it important to trace how some of the socio-economic and political problems have arisen in parts of West Africa and to some extent Zimbabwe where military coups have already occurred and were generally celebrated or endorsed by the masses. Following the end of the Cold War in the 1990s, countries which ran with and enforced the liberal ideology such as France established their hegemony in West Africa by imposing its language, currency, trade system, but most importantly leaders of their choice who ensured that their interests were protected at all cost. Hence, the establishment of military bases in the region. For example, despite France not having any gold deposits/mining on its plateau, is ranked fourth in terms of gold reserves in the world.[4] Since colonialism, the exploration and mining of lucrative minerals such as gold, iron ore, uranium, oil and diamonds in West Africa has frequently gone unchecked, usually done at the expense of the masses in these poverty stricken African countries. To make matters worse, 14 West African countries pay an annual ‘colonial tax’ amounting to US$500 billion/year to France, appropriating about 85% of the former colonies’ annual income[5] which puts them in a more precarious social and economic position.

In exchange for their compliance and unwavering loyalty, African political leaders who are imposed or supported to get into power by the West get exclusive open cheques for first class medical care when the public health care system in their countries is in shambles, go for holidays abroad, acquire luxurious houses and top-of-the-range cars, open businesses and foreign currency/off-shore accounts, whilst their children enjoy citizenship to stay and study in these stable in Western countries. In direct contrast, their home countries are reeling in violent wars, acute water shortages, disease outbreaks, poor housing, hunger, droughts, and high levels of unemployment, among other crises. Arguably, this might explain why when the coup in Niger and Gabon occurred in 2023, the ousted leaders were accused of desperately appealing to their Western handlers (not their local supporters) to intervene and restore them as Presidents. In another curious case, it is alleged that the Cameroonian President, Mr. Paul Biya, who has been in power for 41 years prefers long holidays in Geneva and occasionally visits Cabinet[6], yet he is supposed to be in his home country/capital to serve the people whom he took an oath to lead. The former Nigerian President, Mr.Muhammadu?Buhari, was known to be a frequent visitor to London for special medical treatments for months at end.[7] This is a recipe for disaster because such prolonged absence from office by the Head of State creates a power vacuum, making the country susceptible to a military coup. Most African leaders have lost touch with reality on the ground which ultimately leads to them being violently removed from office through military coups.

Theoretical frameworks to explain the causes of unconstitutional changes of government and military coups in Africa

As alluded to earlier on in one’s analysis that most politicians use their offices to consolidate power and accumulate wealth at the expense of the masses, some military interventions in politics occur on nationalistic and professional grounds to save the nation from socio-economic collapse in the hands of inept, divisive and corrupt politicians. In such case scenarios, the army considers it constitutional and patriotic duty to temporarily step in and clean up the mess and then guide the nation back to a clean civilian regime.[8] Hence, a coup. When there is social and economic decay, men and women in uniform are not spared as they are also part and parcel of the polity. Thus, they might end up taking matters into their own hands. It is also important to note that when a country is struggling with unemployment, young people seek reprieve by exploring employment opportunities in the army and police where vacancies are usually available. For example, despite Zimbabwe’s economic challenges, each year, the country recruits personnel to bolster its security apparatus without fail.

However, the age limit is at least 18 but not more than 24 years of age. In most parts of the world, young people are the highest beneficiaries of military and police recruitments. Although this is advantageous for the State because this is the stage when a person is more productive and energetic, it is also self-undoing because these are the same young people who effect coups from within the system as they will be expressing the grievances and anger at the establishment which many have harboured/experienced for a long time at personal level. Most are forced to get coscripted into the security forces due to desperation and seating idle at home. Burkina Faso’s new military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, who is about 34 years of age became popular after becoming the youngest President through a coup in January 2022. He is also known for being is a strong critique of France’s grip on West Africa’s affairs and corrupt politician’s rule in the region. This was embraced by most people as a turning point. Arguably, the coup was precipitated, planned and executed when the army sensed that a constituency of discontent was big enough to give it immediate and spontaneous support.[9] Unsurprisingly, Captain Traore, has become one of Africa’s most popular leader due to his steadfast and consistent call for the restoration of people power, the dignity and livelihoods of the downtrodden. His predecessor, Thomas Sankara, embarked on the same path … years ago, but was heartlessly assassinated through his close friend and close confidant, Mr. Blaise Compaoré, allegedly at the behest of the French.[10] Mr. Compaoré eventually succeeded Sankara, though with little to no support of the Burkinan masses. Fortunately, his legacy has been reincarnated through Captain Traore. ?

These military leaders in the West African region have put themselves at the centre of their government’s drive to ensure that national resources benefit everyone and are used for national development.? Something that could have been easily done by the previous government and their predecessors. The young military President and others in the countries which assumed power through coups in the same region have committed to strategically use their offices and regional partnership to pursue social justice and restore equality among the ordinary folk. Even though their messaging aligns with each other and resonate with new beginnings, researchers and analysts should keep a close eye and closely follow how developments unfold in these countries in next few months or years to come. It is apparent that the youth have taken it upon themselves to effect change from within the system itself because they have been prevented from doing so through constitutional processes such as elections, public hearings, petitions, and non-violent protests. This bags the question if unconstitutional changes of governments and military coups in Africa are justified.

When it became clear that the West African countries I mentioned above are in acute danger as they were being run by a leadership that had lost popular support and no longer having the legitimacy to continue in office, military leaders staged a string of coups across the region purportedly to restore order, transparency and accountability. To prove that the political leadership had lost internal respect, support and credibility, the masses endorsed and celebrated the military takeovers as turning points in their history. Whilst frantic efforts were made by the Western countries such as the United States, France and the United Kingdom, regional blocs such as the African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to reverse the coups, the support of the masses made it entirely impossible. In most West African countries where coups recently occurred, we witnessed French Embassies being closed and expelled, trade, economic and military cooperation ties being severed with France and the French language being scrapped as the official language. This radical change in approach and tone by the West African States being led by military juntas against their former colonizer sent shockwaves across the African continent. This should be an awakening call and opportunity for other African governments to self-introspect so as to avoid similar occurrences in their own countries. For example, African leaders should be asking themselves the very important question if there is need for high ranking political leaders to be flown out of the country to get medical treatment abroad if Africa’s local public health systems are well equipped and functional? Why can’t they invest in local infrastructure to make it efficient and effective for everyone so as to save millions of dollars that they spend to get medical assistance in foreign countries?

Recommendations:

·???????? As the army has apparently taken charge in some West African States, there should be a deliberate and extensive review of the challenges people in these countries are facing, come up with an exhaustive blue print that will thoroughly address these issues and ensure that funding for the accompanying processes to restore the dignity and human rights of everyone is availed. Africa has abundant resources that are adequate to meet everyone’s needs. Evidence-based interventions should ensure that no one is left behind in terms of civil-political participation and other democratic processes to hold policy makers and office bearers to account. Access to health, water, food, shelter/housing, education, employment, among other things MUST be guaranteed. ?

·???????? All African countries which have experienced military coups so far should revert back to constitutionalism by guiding their nations back to a clean civilian regime. Naturally, military personnel are not trained to govern. If the army remains involved in political issues, its personnel will end up fighting each other and plunge their countries into more chaos, cases in point being Libya and Sudan. Already, there have been reported cases of foiled coup attempts against the coups leaders in countries such as ... Hopefully, the military leadership will uphold their promise to temporarily step in (emphasis added) and clean up the mess created by political leaders. It is commendable that the military government in Gabon has already set 2025 as the year in which elections will be held to revert to civilian rule. If they stay too long in power, the military governments will become susceptible to and be consumed by covert ambitions, fear to lose power/influence, greed and vanity…utilising a deflation of legitimacy or manipulating the powerlessness of most polities to defend themselves from assaults[11], especially from a very powerful and well-resourced junta.?

·???????? Going forward, Africa’s regional peace and security mechanisms should put in place water-tight systems which should prevent unconstitutional changes of government and military coups from happening so that the drive towards ‘Silencing the Guns’ is realized and achieving Agenda 2030 is achieved. The problem with coups is that they are contagious as seen through the lenses of Zimbabwe’s 2017 coup which arguably inspired other coups in West Africa due to the lack of agency to protect a constitutionally elected government and President by the Southern African Development Community-SADC and the African Union-AU). If not nipped in the bud, the entire African continent will be taken back to the dark ages because every political dispute will be resolved through a military intervention which defeats the whole purpose of the African Peace and Security Architecture.

References

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