Former Senate member Shehu Sani has highlighted the factors contributing to the resurgence of military takeovers in Africa, particularly within the West African sub-region.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, Sani expressed concern about the growing prevalence of military regimes in West African countries, attributing their recurrence to the deliberate creation of conditions that pave the way for their return.
Over the past years, we’ve witnessed the collapse of democracies across the West African sub-region, including Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, and now Niger Republic.
Coup d’états are not abrupt events; they result from a culmination of circumstances.
Currently, I’ve identified five key conditions in West Africa that contribute to this phenomenon.
The first condition is the erosion of democratic principles.
Rigged elections, disregard for the rule of law, and frequent violations of constitutions by self-proclaimed democrats all diminish the essence of democracy, sowing the seeds for its demise.
Secondly, economic disparities and inequality are pervasive.
Rampant poverty triggers social upheaval and crises, creating an environment ripe for illegal power takeovers.
Such situations offer justification for those advocating military intervention due to perceived failures of democracy amid suffering.
The third condition centers around security concerns.
The proliferation of terror groups in the Sahel, such as Boko Haram, ANSARU, and ISWAP, has led civilian authorities to heavily rely on the military for safety.
This dependency nurtures the notion that military control is necessary for stability.
Fourthly, the absence of a coordinated effort to safeguard democracy in Africa exacerbates the situation.
Coups persist because there is no unified strategy or consequences against them.
Preventing such coups becomes feasible if collective efforts are made to protect democratic governance.
The fifth factor involves issues around the elections of ousted leaders, like Niger’s former president, Mohammed Bazoum.
Regional bodies like ECOWAS and the African Union have been inconsistent in addressing constitutional tinkering and tenure extensions by leaders, allowing such actions to go unchecked.
In summary, the deterioration of democratic governance coupled with selective responses from regional bodies when coups occur can potentially lead to military takeovers.
The reinvigoration of democracy protection efforts and a consistent stance against unconstitutional actions are crucial to preventing further destabilization in the region.
