Find out what you missed from the Coup d'etats happening in West Africa

A coup or technically a coup d'etat is a sudden and unlawful seizure of government power by a small group, often achieved by force or violence. It is typically carried out by military officials or other leaders seeking to overthrow a country’s sitting regime and take control themselves.

History of Coups in Africa

Coups have been a recurrent phenomenon in African politics since the continent gained its independence in the 1960s. Initially, coups were seen as a valid means of achieving political change, replacing colonial powers with newly established African governments. However, far away from the hopes of a new government, coups also brought instability, corruption, and lack of democratic accountability to the countries that underwent these sudden changes.

Between 1963 and 2017, there have been approximately 214 coup attempts in Africa. These ranged from failed or ineffective coups to successful overthrows of democratically elected governments. ALJAZEERA reports that there have been at least 242 successful coups in the world since 1950 and Africa accounts for almost half of them at a total of 106. The first successful coup in Africa occurred in Togo in 1963 when President Sylvanus Olympio was assassinated by a group of soldiers who then established a military government. 

Among the previous notable coups in Africa include: Nigeria, 1966: Ghana, 1966: Ethiopia, 1974: Uganda, 1979: Burkina Faso, 1983: Liberia, 1980 and 1999: Sierra Leone, 1992 and 1997: Sudan, 1989: 2021: Zimbabwe, 2017.

Coups in Africa have mostly occurred when there is political instability, economic hardship, corruption, or when the military feels that civilian authorities are inefficient. While some of those coups aimed to establish military rule, others promised swift democratic reforms. However, in most cases, these promises failed to deliver lasting changes, and subsequent military governments that were popularly supported by the people became increasingly unpopular.

Truth be told that the legacy of coups in Africa is very complex. Some argue that coups are necessary to eliminate corrupt regimes and bring about positive change, while others point out that coups undermine democratic progress, generate long-term instability, and result in significant human rights abuses. Despite this, coups remain prevalent and continue to shape the political landscape in many African countries even today.

What you missed from the current Coups in West and Central Africa

West Africa has been experiencing a wave of coups in recent times. In August 2020, Mali witnessed a military coup that led to the forced resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. The military junta, known as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), has since then been in control of the country.

Mali Coup Leaders

Chad’s army on the other side, in April 2021, took power after the death of President Idriss Deby who was killed on the battlefield while visiting his troops that were fighting rebels in the northern side of the country. It was stipulated in the country’s constitution that the speaker of parliament become the new president but the military stepped in and dissolved the parliament claiming to ensure stability in the country.

Chad's Military Leader

In Guinea, another coup occurred on September 5, 2021, just days before the country’s presidential elections were set to take place. The coup, led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, led to the detention of President Alpha Conde and the suspension of the constitution. However, the military junta promised to set up a transitional government and hold elections in the future.

Guinea Coup Chief

On 23rd January 2022, a coup de tat was launched in Burkina Faso. There was reported gunfire in front of the country’s presidential residence in the capital Ouagadougou, and several barracks around the city. It was later reported that soldiers had seized control of the country’s leadership and the military base in the capital. Later on September 30, there was a second coup where the sitting military leader, President Paul-Henri Damiba was deposed as army Captain Ibrahim Traore took charge. 

Burkina Faso military leader

Niger also witnessed a coup on 26th July 2023 when the country’s presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum. Later on, presidential guard commander General Abdourhamane Tchiani declared himself as the leader of the new military junta and the country after confirming the success of the coup.

Niger Coup Leaders

Gabon, a country in Central Africa also made its way into the statistics on 30 August 2023 after a group of military men went live on national TV confirming the success of their coup. They also announced the subsequent detention of President Ali Bongo which put an end to the Bongo regime that had ruled the country for almost 50 years. Weeks later, the military junta appointed Gen Brice Oligui Nguema as the new leader who would also usher in a new civilian government. 

Gabon Coup Leader

The coups discussed above have attracted widespread condemnation from the international community, with regional bodies such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) demanding a speedy return to constitutional order. The said coups have also raised concerns about regional stability and the potential for violence and civil unrest in the respective countries. It remains to be seen how these coups will be resolved and the impact they will have on the affected countries and the continent as a whole.

Are Coups Bad or Good for Africa?

In general, coups are not good for Africa or any other region of the world. Coups often lead to the overthrow of democratically elected governments and the installation of military regimes that do not represent the will of the people. This can result in a variety of negative consequences, including political instability, human rights violations, and economic decline.

Furthermore, coups often create a vicious cycle of instability, as military rulers are often overthrown in subsequent coups, creating even more tension and uncertainty. Instead of promoting democracy and stability, most coups tend to undermine these values and promote authoritarianism.

That said, there may be instances where coups are necessary. In this case, the coups are referred to as revolutions. According to the Hans Kelsen General Theory of Law and State, "A revolution in the broader sense of the word (that includes a coup de tat) is every not legitimate change of the constitution or its replacement by another constitution." For example, if a democratically elected government is engaging in severe human rights abuses or threatening the safety and security of its citizens, a coup might be the only option to restore order. However, these situations should be the exception rather than the rule.

Also, while coups might seem like a quick fix for political problems, they tend to create more problems than they solve. It is far better for nations to resolve political disagreements through peaceful and democratic means rather than through the use of force.

Will the coups in West Africa escalate to war?

There is currently no strong evidence to suggest that the coup in West Africa will escalate to war even though there are some red alerts. There are some indications that ECOWAS led by Nigeria and supported by some European nations such as France, will consider military interventions to dispose of the military regime in Niger. Nevertheless, this might not happen because of the many peace-loving citizens of the world who have condemned any military intervention in the country's current political affairs.

Furthermore, while coups often are surrounded by political instability and violence, the situation in West Africa is relatively contained until now. Most of the coups happened very peacefully like in the case of Niger and Gabon where the governments were overthrown by just the military having the sitting presidents under house arrest and taking over power. 

Surprisingly, those coups were received by joyful celebrations from the majority of the public. Citizens of the affected countries were reported praising the military for putting an end to bad governance. Moreover, the coup leaders have stated that their goal is to restore democracy in those countries, and some neighboring countries have also expressed their desire for a peaceful resolution. 

To settle the matter, the international community has condemned the coups, and other countries have imposed economic sanctions, putting pressure on the coup leaders to restore civilian rule. While the situation is still uncertain, it is unlikely that it will escalate to a full-scale war. It will be good that these coups be solved in peace according to African Agenda 2063. Peace should not only be an option but the only available choice when resolving conflicts in Africa; a continent that has witnessed so much bloodshed in decades.