The Fear of Military Coup in West Africa
30 July 2023 By Abiodun Kareem Giwa
The Niger Republic, north of Nigeria, comes in the news following the military coup that ousts the constitutionally elected government in the country on Wednesday. The new leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, formerly head of the Brigade of Guards, said sacked elected leaders as necessary due to insecurity and economic uncertainty. Response in the country to the military stepping into power is mixed, with some approving the military intervention and others against it. However, events here worry democratic nations worldwide, as the Niger coup can encourage other military guys in other West African countries to do the same.
Niger's civilian leader's reason for toppling elected representatives sounds like words of protest against the former government's handling of the security and economic condition there. And that has always been the case. These adventurers will seize upon the bad conditions and accuse the sitting government of dereliction of duty. They are often right in most cases but only to falter in their drive to correct the wrongs, and it is the bane of African politics.
Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, met in Abuja in reaction to Niger's episode. The Nation's newspaper, published in Nigeria, reported that ECOWAS leaders resolved to sanction Niger's military and to form a regional security force against military coups and terrorism. But they are yet to agree on funding.
Some observers welcome ECOWAS leaders' decision, while others think forcible intervention from a regional force will interfere in the territorial affairs of a sovereign nation. And that the hurried reason behind the ECOWAS leaders' meeting in Abuja and the suggestion for a regional force is not to protect the people's interest but themselves in office.
One school of thought says good governance is the only antidote to military coups. It says military leaders should not be encouraged to seize power but that civilian leaders must stop taking the people for granted. The argument states that elected leaders in Africa subjugate the people; they serve themselves rather than the people. The school of thought believes a coup will attract the condemnation of democratic countries in the West and military governments sanctioned as reason elected leaders think they are invincible. They ride on the people's back to power and soon forget they are in office to serve the people. They serve themselves. People in West African countries cry that elected leaders don't help them. Imagine the insecurity and economic situation in Nigerian, Sierra Leone, and some Franco-Phone countries like Niger. The exchange rate between Sierra Leone's currency and the dollar is unprintable. A dollar exchanges for 594 West African Francs. A dollar goes for about 800 Nigeria's Naira. Many Nigerians died during the Naira-Swap program arising from leadership's foolishness, and lives are going down the drain following a sudden oil subsidy removal. Nigerians are crying!
Military coups are not new in Africa. The only problem with the emergent leaders in uniform is that they mostly fail. They put their boots on the people's necks and are the sole authority. Elected leaders overthrown in various countries in the past caused their fall, either for corrupt tendencies or outright disrespect for rules and believing no one can stop them. Most Africans look back to the past, curse their kings who sold them into slavery, the politicians who helped them gain political independence that turned into an aberration, and wish the colonial powers to come and colonize again.
Ivory Coast is the only country in West Africa that has not experienced military intervention. According to Nigerian Scholars online, Mali, Togo, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, and Burkina Faso have. They all have transformed from military governance to civilian rule with the encouragement of the famous saying that the worst democratic government is better than the most benevolent military rulership. One notable observation is that recent forcible change has occurred mainly in Franco-Phone countries - Mali, Guinea, and Niger.
The fear of coups in Franco-Phone countries, igniting others, irrespective of language, arises from insecurity and terrible economic conditions in some West African countries, which are the elixirs the military guys seek to step into action. It is welcome for Western leaders to condemn military coups in Africa and for incumbent leaders to seek solutions to myriad coups because they unsettle democratic gains and lead to rights abuses.
Preference is for Western leaders to drum it into the ears of democratic leaders in West Africa to eschew selfishness and greediness, causing corruption's rise, in favor of democratic dividend to the people. And Western leaders, especially in the United States, seen as the custodian of democracy, must lead by example by avoiding the erosion of the rule of law.
Niger's civilian leader's reason for toppling elected representatives sounds like words of protest against the former government's handling of the security and economic condition there. And that has always been the case. These adventurers will seize upon the bad conditions and accuse the sitting government of dereliction of duty. They are often right in most cases but only to falter in their drive to correct the wrongs, and it is the bane of African politics.
Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, met in Abuja in reaction to Niger's episode. The Nation's newspaper, published in Nigeria, reported that ECOWAS leaders resolved to sanction Niger's military and to form a regional security force against military coups and terrorism. But they are yet to agree on funding.
Some observers welcome ECOWAS leaders' decision, while others think forcible intervention from a regional force will interfere in the territorial affairs of a sovereign nation. And that the hurried reason behind the ECOWAS leaders' meeting in Abuja and the suggestion for a regional force is not to protect the people's interest but themselves in office.
One school of thought says good governance is the only antidote to military coups. It says military leaders should not be encouraged to seize power but that civilian leaders must stop taking the people for granted. The argument states that elected leaders in Africa subjugate the people; they serve themselves rather than the people. The school of thought believes a coup will attract the condemnation of democratic countries in the West and military governments sanctioned as reason elected leaders think they are invincible. They ride on the people's back to power and soon forget they are in office to serve the people. They serve themselves. People in West African countries cry that elected leaders don't help them. Imagine the insecurity and economic situation in Nigerian, Sierra Leone, and some Franco-Phone countries like Niger. The exchange rate between Sierra Leone's currency and the dollar is unprintable. A dollar exchanges for 594 West African Francs. A dollar goes for about 800 Nigeria's Naira. Many Nigerians died during the Naira-Swap program arising from leadership's foolishness, and lives are going down the drain following a sudden oil subsidy removal. Nigerians are crying!
Military coups are not new in Africa. The only problem with the emergent leaders in uniform is that they mostly fail. They put their boots on the people's necks and are the sole authority. Elected leaders overthrown in various countries in the past caused their fall, either for corrupt tendencies or outright disrespect for rules and believing no one can stop them. Most Africans look back to the past, curse their kings who sold them into slavery, the politicians who helped them gain political independence that turned into an aberration, and wish the colonial powers to come and colonize again.
Ivory Coast is the only country in West Africa that has not experienced military intervention. According to Nigerian Scholars online, Mali, Togo, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, and Burkina Faso have. They all have transformed from military governance to civilian rule with the encouragement of the famous saying that the worst democratic government is better than the most benevolent military rulership. One notable observation is that recent forcible change has occurred mainly in Franco-Phone countries - Mali, Guinea, and Niger.
The fear of coups in Franco-Phone countries, igniting others, irrespective of language, arises from insecurity and terrible economic conditions in some West African countries, which are the elixirs the military guys seek to step into action. It is welcome for Western leaders to condemn military coups in Africa and for incumbent leaders to seek solutions to myriad coups because they unsettle democratic gains and lead to rights abuses.
Preference is for Western leaders to drum it into the ears of democratic leaders in West Africa to eschew selfishness and greediness, causing corruption's rise, in favor of democratic dividend to the people. And Western leaders, especially in the United States, seen as the custodian of democracy, must lead by example by avoiding the erosion of the rule of law.
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