By: Abdulrasaq Kamaldeen
In Africa, coup has proven to be a better rule than democracy. Last three years, the African continent witnessed Seven successful coups. Democracy practiced in Africa is no longer a fully working tool to rule in Africa, rather the military are taking a bold step to restrict the fragile democracy.
According to ACCORD, “Coups in Africa appear to be a continuation of political process and leadership by other means, understood through the lens of neocolonialism.”
Military coup was alien in Africa until its first occurrence in Egypt on July 23rd, 1952 known as “July 23 Revolution ” led by General Muhammad Naguib against King Farouk l.
Fourteen years passed, General Aguiyi Ironsi on the 15th of January, 1966, initiated the first successful military coup in Nigeria. The then Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was overthrown. The military government became the new landlord of the country, snatching away the Nigerian bone from the jaws of the inheritors of the colonial masters.
Therefore, the 1966 coup paved the way for the other coups Nigeria encountered. Both the victorious and the unsuccessful ones. Such as the instance of Dimka’s plot amongst others.
The military government steps into power because they believed their ability can cure national diseases which civilian governments were unable to do in their regime. Once the military government steps into the mantle of power, all other arms of government except the judiciary will be in operation with limited exercise of judicial power––the power of the legislator and executive will be in the possession of the military government.
The existing laws are usually discontinued. New legal orders that suit the military needs are brought in. And no one born of women has the capacity to question their laws even the court. Most of the fundamental human rights enjoyed under civilian government were to be stricken out.
Unlike civilian governments there will be neither National assembly nor state house of assembly under the military regime––they will be in both maintaining and remuneration of public funds.
Many African countries have experienced what military coup is among them; Niger Republic, not long ago a coup d’etat occured in the republic on 26th July led by General Omar Tchiani, detained president Muhammad Bazoum and his family. Many international organizations like; The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), United States, France, and the United Nations also strongly condemns the coup, calling it “unconstitutional”.
Therefore, several meetings that had taken place by international organizations to resolve the coup were of no avail.
Meanwhile, the situation also extends to Gabon, the coup in Gabon is the end of family dynasty; the country lost its democratic president to the military on 30th August, after Ali Bongo Ondimba, who has been in power since 2009, Gabon’s governance could better be described as monarchical democracy, given that Ali Bongo succeeded his father, Omar Bongo ruled for 42 years from 1967-2009, the family ruled the nation for 56 years.
Several reasons attached to the motion of coups in Africa, including economic growth, low-income, modernisation, cultural pluralism, greediness of power by military, poor governance, corruption, autocracy, among other factors.