A common feature of governance in Africa is instability usually brought about by incessant military interventions in democratic governance through coup d’etat. The frequency of these undemocratic interventions has often reclined the wheels of socioeconomic and political developments in the affected countries.
Military coups have plagued Africa for decades, causing instability, undermining democracy, and hindering development. It has become necessary for the continent to break this cycle of violence and embrace constitutional governance.
If anything, military coups undermine democratic institutions and the rule of law and lead to authoritarian rule and human rights abuses. Africa’s democratic gains are too precious to be sacrificed at the altar of military adventurism. It is embarrassing that the African continent,once it makes two steps progress towards constitutional governance,it takes ten steps backwards in licking its vomits.
This apparently destabilizes African economies. The coups create economic instability, deter investors, and undermine development projects. Consequently, Africa’s economic growth and poverty reduction efforts are compromised as a result of these incessant military interventions.
Another ugly consequence of military coups is the creation of humanitarian crises in the affected countries.Military coups often result in violence, displacement, and humanitarian crises, causing immense suffering for innocent civilians. It is antithetical that the same people who the coupists always claimed as the reason for their intervention are the ones in Africa who suffer most whenever there is a coup. African people deserve peace, stability, and security.
Nigerian Horn beckons on the international community to impose tougher and stricter sanctions on military coupists and their sponsors or enablers.Appreciated that the international community has always consistently condemned military coups in Africa, imposing sanctions and isolating coup-makers,however, more still needs to be done. African military leaders must be made to respect democratic norms.
What happened in Guinea-Bissau a few days ago should be condemned in totality. It was a big dent on democracy perpetrated by the outgoing president, who had announced a military takeover of government simply because he foresaw himself as having lost the presidential election to the opposition. Former President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, who led the ECOWAS Election Observer team for that particular election in Guinea-Bissau, described the Guinea-Bissau military coup as “ceremonial.” It was a shame on African continent and their leaders.
To permanently stop this embarrassment, there should be a holistic security sector reform.
Africa’s security leaders should be able to prioritize professionalism, accountability, and subject themselves to civilian oversight. Military interventions must give way to democratic control and practices.
It does not need to be overemphasized that Africa’s democratic institutions need support and strengthening in order to ensure that they can withstand challenges and promote stability. They need the encouragement of all human institutions to succeed, including the military
Those who sponsor military interventions in Africa should know that
Africa’s future depends on promoting democracy, stability, and development. Incessant military coups breed backwards. They must, therefore, be discouraged, while constitutional governance is promoted.
