It is unacceptable to him and his fellow heads of state that at this modern age of continental history, were still talking about forceful change of power at the barrel of a gun, Ajuri Ngelale, Mr. Tinubus spokesman, said in an interview. Elian Peltier is the West Africa correspondent. In others, it is because they have political projects they wish to complete that take longer than expected. But here, Leonard Mbulle-Nziege and Nic Cheeseman argue that - despite these set-backs - democracy is the way forward for Africa. Coup [22] In turn, war has been understood as part of politics ever since von Clausewitz famously argued: War is a continuation of political intercourse with a mixture of other means. Africa has been hit by a spate of coups that threaten to take it back to the 1980s and the era of military rule. On the other hand, they have destabilised several political regimes through coup dtats. WebWednesday, July 26. Niger coup leader agrees to hold direct talks with ECOWAS: Mutinous soldiers detained President Mohamed Bazoum at his official residence in the capital Niamey. Rwanda is often cited as an example of what a "strong man" can do in the African context - delivering economic growth while reducing corruption. Also, deep insecurities, weak political leadership, and corruption have been highlighted as key factors that led to Colonel Assimi Gotas overthrow of Malian President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane in 2020. Second, the analysis highlights how military overthrows, even though they are not desirable in most States, are a continuation of politics by other means. [1] Feaver, Peter D. (1999). [23] Baylis, John; Smith, Steve; and Owens, Patricia (eds) (2014) The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, 6th edn, Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 217. the year military coups returned to the WebCollier / PARTIES, COUPS [63] The new states of tropical Africa provide an interesting setting for such a study. The purpose of this article is to contribute to the theoretical understanding of African military coups d'etat. First, it argues that military coups in Africa are best understood through the lens of neocolonialism. This escalated to the height of the military coup in 2012, and the country has faced multiple coup attempts in the last decade [24, 25]. Supporters of the junta in Niger take part in a demonstration in front of a French army base in Niamey. Our quiz, Why Jasprit Bumrah is so important for Indian cricket, The race to unravel the mysteries of Moon's south pole, Solving the air-con conundrum. Each side is keeping watch suspiciously, he said. Some historians have argued that the occurance of military coups in Africa is a repetition of colonial history. On Tuesday, ECOWAS said it firmly condemns the coup in Burkina Faso and said President Kabore had stepped down under duress. Two weeks later, mutinous generals took power in neighboring Niger, prompting Mr. Tinubu and the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (known as ECOWAS) to draw a line in the sand: The mutineers in Niger had a week to relinquish power and release the president or face consequences, including military action. 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With the border between the countries closed until further notice, thousands of trucks have been stuck. Causes If a fight erupts, who will be at the receiving end? Coup [11] Barka, Habiba Ben and Ncube, Mthuli (2012) op. Chad and Sudan also had military takeovers; however, the preponderance of these incidents occurred in West Africa, where the majority of countries were French colonies. In less than 2 years, Africa witnessed three successful coups a coup in Guinea and two coups in Mali. This is particularly evident in West Africa, where military takeovers are relatively common in democratic systems that favour only the political class. Writing about military coups in Africa can be a fru strating reason that nothing is certain whenever there is a Pat and Thomas H. Johnson. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Similarly, former Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keta was accused of rigging the 2020 legislative elections. Against this backdrop, Walter Rodney has argued: The phenomenon of neo-colonialism cries out for extensive investigation in order to formulate the strategy and tactics of African emancipation and development. coup The West African regional bloc ECOWAS says it has chosen an undisclosed D-Day for a possible military intervention to restore Nigers democratically elected president coup This follows a military coup, or to put it better the house arrest of Professor Alpha Conde by his own loyal forces. Many of the recent coups have the DNA of old coups. Following the period from 1957-1960, when most countries in West Africa broke loose from colonialism and became independent, the need for an integrated and classless ; McBride, Michael (2004) Crises, Coups, and Entry-deterring Reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa, Paper presented at the Public Choice Society Seminar, University of California, June; Johnson, Thomas H.; Slater, Robert O.; and McGowan, Pat (1984) Explaining African Military Coups dtat, 1960-1982, American Political Science Review, 78(3), 622640. Africas coup belt spans the continent: a line of six countries crossing 3,500 miles, from coast to coast, that has become the longest corridor of military rule on Earth. The quick descolonization of the 20th century left african countries desorganized The coups were widespread in the early postcolonial decades, and the coup plotters justified their reasons for the coup dtat on corruption, mismanagement, and poverty. Shegun Bakari, the foreign minister of Benin, which shares borders with Niger and Nigeria, said the bloc had sent religious, military, and political mediators to Niger, with little success. Military Coups and Military Rgimes in Africa Africa 128, Brighton, Sussex: Institute of Development Issues. T he euphoria of independence in Africa in the 1960s was quickly followed by a long succession of military coups until the late 1990s. Kannywood, the cinema industry based in the northern Nigerian city of Kano, provides households in Niger with entertainment in the Hausa language. Ali Saleh, a truck driver who has made cross-border trips for two decades, has been stranded for days this week and said the family-like atmosphere had vanished. By C. C. Ozeh Dated June 15, 2017. Despite the fact that hundreds of people have been injured and at least 79 killed, the Sudanese people continue to demand their democratic rights. Bazoum and his family, according to the latest information, have been deprived of food, electricity and medical care for several days, said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Timeline: What has happened in Niger since the coup? Military-led intervention by France and other outside powers has failed to stem the widening destabilization of a landmass and population vastly bigger than those of WebThere were at least 18 states (out of a total of 49) in sub-Saharan Africa with active armed conflicts in 2021. There is a long history of coups and human rights violations. coups Soldiers received a rapturous welcome after they seized power in Guinea last year, This supporters of Mali's football team held a picture of coup leader Colonel Assimi Goita before a recent Africa Cup of Nations match, Sudanese protesters continue to risk their lives to demand an end to military rule, Rwanda markets itself as a high-tech hub but there is no room for criticism of the government, African leaders complain about 'wave of coups'. cookies It remains unclear whether all branches of the Nigerien military back them, or whether the support extends beyond the capital. Recent coups in West Africa. As such they assumed power illegally to liberate the economy from foreign Data indicates that over 40 coups and attempted coups have occurred in Africa since 2010 and 20 of those coups occurred in the region of West Africa. The 82 coups Africa experienced between 1960 and 2000 were devastating for the continentcontributing to the instability, corruption, human rights abuses, impunity, and poverty that characterized many African countries during that era. Military Coups Following military takeovers in five different African countries in the past year, some have suggested that democracy may not be the best form of government on the continent. Another reason is of course the need to try and avoid international condemnation and sanctions by pledging a return to multiparty elections and democratic governance. In Niger, tens of thousands of pro-junta protesters have rallied behind the generals in the capital, Niamey, giving them a veneer of popular support. This mornings coup detat in Niger only deepens the pattern of instability across Africas Sahel and damages what has been a rare process of fairly steady democracy building in the region. Africas democratic advancement is being derailed by these coups. Military Coups An unprecedented number of member states have been suspended from the bloc as a result of the military power grabs. Like Mali and Burkina Faso, the country is struggling with a brutal jihadist insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives, forced many people from their homes and undermined faith in government. The idea of neocolonialism emerged when the first generation of political leaders in modern African States, including Ghanas Kwame Nkrumah and Nigerias Nnamdi Azikiwe, were confronted with post-independence contradictions. [24] Damiba and his military colleagues were smart enough to identify a major weakness in Kabors regime, which is the rising insecurities in Burkina Faso, as a justification for the coup. Niger was one of the few democracies left in the Sahel belt which stretches across the continent. coups Reporting from Dakar, Senegal, and Maiduguri, Nigeria. Between 1966 and 1999 the army held power in Nigeria without interruption apart from a short-lived return to democracy between 1979-1983. In summary, military coups are a continuation of politics by other means, especially in West Africa where the political systems favour only the political class to the detriment of the masses. [15] Nkrumah, Kwame (1965) Neo-colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism,London: PANAF, p. ix. coup [16] Quist-Adade, Charles (2016) The Coup that Set Ghana and Africa 50 Years Back, Pambazuka News, 2 March, Available at: [Accessed January 2022]; Doh, Emmanuel F. (2008) Africas Political Wastelands: The Bastardization of Cameroon,Bamenda: Langaa Research & Publishing Common Initiative Group. The production of each export commodity was concentrated in a different area, and the increasingly valuable revenues from oil, located mainly in the Eastern regions, were used to benefit the North, from which the government cit., p. 1. Fears also mounted for elected president Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted by members of his guard on 26 July. [17] Chiwanza, Takudzwa (2019) France has Assassinated 22 African Presidents Since 1963, The African Exponent, 29 June 2019, Available at: [Accessed January 2022]. MILITARY COUPS 6:04. For example, Robin Luckham et al. Apart from the foiled attempt to overthrow Guinea Bissaus current president, Umaro Sissoco Embal, on 1 February 2022, Burkina Fasos most recent successful coup, in which President Roch Marc Christian Kabor was deposed by an army led by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damibaon 24 January 2022, underscores how West African States are the most burdened by military coups on the continent. Kakuba believes that foreign interference cannot be ruled out in some of these coups. Military Coups in Nigeria WebOne of the main reasons for coups is when presidents overstay in power and lose their focus, (which causes) government institutions to weaken and eventually the military to But while it is tempting to interpret the spate of coups as evidence that democracy in Africa is dying, that would be a mistake. The clamour for coups among citizens is rising Wikimedia CommonsOn the night of 13 January 1963, Togos President Sylvanus Olympio was shot dead by rebels in the first military coup staged in Africa. J.; and Weingast, Barry. High-intensity armed conflicts occurred in 12 states: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. To halt this decline, its vital to listen to African voices urging that international partners make the most of a powerful pro-democracy tool: increased foreign investment Protesters near the base on the outskirts of the capital Niamey shouted down with France, down with Ecowas. Africa: Civilian Support for Military Coups Is Rising in Parts of Assimi Gota, the head of the junta that led the 2020 Malian coup d'tat, announced that N'daw and Ouane were stripped of their powers Niger coup: Are military takeovers on the rise in Africa? WebOver the past 18 months, there have been seven coups and coup attempts in African nations. In Niger, residents say food prices have soared since the military takeover, although it remains unclear whether they are primarily caused by the border closures. It follows that military institutions significance usually comes to light during inter-state wars organized violence carried on by political units against each other[21] and local combats organised violence between governments and rebels. 2021, the year military coups returned to the stage in Africa This year, there were four successful military takeovers across the continent in Chad, Mali, Guinea and Sudan up from one in 2020. WebDemocratization and Military Coups in Africa: Post-1990 Political Conflicts studies the seemingly endless cycle of coups that have occurred in Africa since the Free Officers Coup of 1952 in Egypt. African armies are perceived as underfunded, underequipped, and ineffective. Chiefs of staff from West African Ecowas bloc countries were set to attend a meeting on Saturday in Ghanas capital Accra, regional military sources had said on Friday. In fact, no year has passed by since 1960 to date without one or more military coups occurring in Africa (see Table 13.1 for a list of military coups in Africa, 19602015). First Military Coup in Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa The fact that nearly all of the so-called coup leaders are Western-trained raises many questions," he said, adding: Why are the coups taking place during a period of heightened tensions in the world, particularly between China and the US?. At least three other countries in West Africa Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali have had military coups since 2020. Military leaders of the coup at a rally in Niamey on Sunday. Military Coups and Military Rgimes in Africa - Volume 11 Issue 1. We use cookies in a limited and restricted manner for specific purposes. July 29, 2023. Based on evidence emerging from the study, a broad conclusion is that military coups and countercoups have serious effects on democratic governance in Africa. [19] Langan, Mark (2018) Neo-colonialism and the Poverty of Development in Africa,London: Palgrave MacMillan. For more details, you can see "our data policy". Corrupt leadership. We use Nigers democratically elected government has been a valued partner for African and international efforts to stabilize the Sahel against its web of insurgencies, Under pressure to stem a cascade of coups among its members, Ecowas had previously issued a seven-day ultimatum to the coup leaders to return Bazoum to power. [24] BBC News (2022) Burkina Faso Coup Leader Damiba Gives First Speech, 28 January, Available at: [Accessed February 2022]. [21] Bull, Hedley (1977) The Anarchical Society: A Study of Order in World Politics,London: Macmillan, p. 184. WebSoldiers are dying. and/or military rule to a system of government based on multiparty democratic elections . [9] Seigler, Sean M. (2021) Are Military Coups Back in Style in Africa? RAND, 1 December, Available at: [Accessed January 2022]. WebAnswer (1 of 3): Im not very experienced with this matter but I will try to answer as well as I can. The academic said West African countries have fragile democracies when compared to other regions on the continent. One distinctive feature of military institutions, as pointed out in the introduction, is their access to weapons and coercive force, generally for the States protection. Since its independence from France in 1960, the landlocked West African country has experienced seven military takeovers. cit. Now, the deadline has passed, Nigers president Mohamed Bazoum is still held hostage in his residence and Mr. Tinubu is facing a backlash in his own country. The effectiveness of military tactics, including the timing of coups, public grievances at stake, and help from foreign allies, contributes significantly to successful coups in neocolonial Africa. However, some coups may have some reasons not so clear and common with other nations, country-specific. He joined The Times in 2017 and was previously based in Paris and London. Conflict and Violence in Africa: Causes, Sources and Types Zimbabwe Defence Forces. Military action appeared a logical next step, some analysts said. Read about our approach to external linking. This article contributes to the discussion by highlighting how coups are a continuation of politics by other means, particularly in West Africa. Check if your university or organisation offers FT membership to read for free. Military takeovers are unlikely to provide an effective way out of this dangerous spiral, because every coup weakens democratic institutions and reasserts the power of the gun at the expense of the power of the ballot box. The crisis in Niger presents an immediate test for Mr. Tinubu, the recently elected president of Africas largest economy, who has vowed to reposition Nigeria as a geopolitical leader in the region. a resulting spike in food and fuel prices, victory in the February election was fraudulent. Neocolonialism helps to explain how modern African States have remained economically and militarily too weak to avert local and foreign threats since independence. Read about our approach to external linking. On Thursday, Mr. Tinubu is set to gather his peers from other countries in the West African bloc for a summit in Nigerias capital, Abuja, where all options are on the table, according to a presidential spokesman. Finding a way out of instability and insecurity will therefore require building stronger democratic institutions that can withstand manipulation by political leaders, not authoritarian ones that exclude citizens and run counter to their aspirations. Still, a military intervention would be suicidal for Nigeria and ECOWAS, said Ebenezer Obadare, a senior fellow for Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, worsening the countrys economy, dividing people along the border and diverting resources to warfare. Furthermore, the article discussed why military coups are a continuation of politics by other means. Niger coup: ECOWAS delegation meets deposed president, military All rights reserved. Why are military coups going out of fashion in Africa? 1984. As a result, on average African democracies achieve higher levels of economic growth while doing a better job of providing public services. Cause and effect IV. cit., p. 63. Many brandished Russian and Niger flags and shouted their support for the countrys new strongman, General Abdourahamane Tiani. You can review our Privacy Policy and POPIA information. [15], Neocolonialism is also visible in how former colonisers, including France and Britain, have undermined Africas political stability through coups. But they later said that it had been suspended indefinitely for technical reasons. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, center, at a gathering of the African Union in Nairobi, Kenya, last month. As opposed to political parties that mostly lose and win elections based on their past achievements and campaign strategies, the failures and successes of military coups are largely dependent on the armed strategies that the military adopts and the weakness of the State. By contrast, military regimes have a long history of abusing human rights while presiding over economic stagnation. ), Foucault Live: Collected Interviews 1961-198,New York: Semiotext(e). Mandatory cookies are used on our website www.aa.com.tr in order to provide you with a better service. In the latest development, the coup leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, arrested Just as the start of the 21st century in Africa saw a global trend that helped to promote democracy, the following decades risk going the opposite direction. WebMeeting meant to brief leaders about best options for deploying force to Niger delayed indefinitely for technical reasons West African nations have suspended a key military Nigerian security forces are also combating kidnappers, extortion rings and oil thieves. coup Web8 February 2022 AFP Soldiers received a rapturous welcome after they seized power in Guinea last year Following military takeovers in five different African countries in the past year, VideoSolving the air-con conundrum, Fury in The Gambia over India cough syrup deaths, Chicken, chips and Zimbabwe's taste for democracy. While a few external factors, such as colonial heritage and the Cold War between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union, have been included in the causes of military coups in Africa,[11] such discussions have not been convincingly presented. Power grabs, unconstitutional military takeovers, or coup dtat are back in Africa. Twice, they refused to meet envoys from the bloc. Coup leaders have shunned both the threats and calls for mediation from Nigeria and ECOWAS. When Damiba seized power last year, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) admitted that the United States had mentored him over many years. Tellingly, where coups have been seen to usurp processes of democratisation, they have been deeply unpopular. Although the trend has been on the decline since 1990s, it is still an intermittent fact of life. African Coups in the 21st Century Nigers new leaders scrapped defence agreements with France last week, while a hostile protest outside the French embassy in Niamey on 30 July prompted Paris to evacuate its citizens. The political class must guard against irresponsible actions, including widespread theft of public resources and constitutional coups, as these create grounds conducive to military coups. The reasons for the military coups that occurred recently in two of the three countries, Mali and Burkina Faso are related. Webmilitary coup was seen in January 1966 and after six month in June another coup dtat was materialized. reasons for military intervention in Nigerian politics What causes Africas coups? That is the question - ISS Africa [18] Neocolonialism has also been associated with outdated vulgar forms of Marxism and dependency theory, as well as uncompromising African leaders, such as Kwame Nkrumah and Robert Mugabe, who have been labelled tyrants. Coup Military coups in Africa: here's what determines a return to civilian rule Coups Burkina Fasos military leader was deposed on Friday in the second coup this year. Amid Niger Coup, Nigeria Grapples with Potential Military Contagious coups: what is fuelling military takeovers across west The West African leaders could at least obtain safe passage for Mr. Bazoum, said Mr. Obadare, from the Council on Foreign Relations. As Douglass North, John Wallis and Barry Weingast have argued, Societies experiencing a civil war, by definition, do not have consolidated control of the military. Research Fellow at the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy at the University of Ghana, Receive latest updates, news and analysis from ACCORD. It isn't polite to generalize but let's face it: West Africa has a coup problem. Read more. Military Coups and Military Rgimes in Africa | The Journal of Sultan Kakuba, a political science professor at Kyambogo University in Uganda, agrees with Mheta, saying the continent had moved a step forward in the transition towards democracy, but coups pushed it backward. claim that disparate political systems inherited from Europeans have led to military coups in Africa. in Africa Indeed, a field study tour conducted in 1960- 1 - the year of independence as it has been called - to investigate the place of the armed forces in societies in Africa did not provide the evidence on which to The resurgence of military coups in West Africa has been alarming in the last decade.
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