Coups in Africa: A Menace or a Necessary Check on Power?

By Joseph Achiech Mathen (LLB), Kampala, Uganda

Introduction

Wednesday, 06 September 2023 (PW) — The term “coup” originates from the French “coup d’état,” meaning a ‘stroke of state’ or ‘blow of state.’ According to Jonathan M. Powell, a coup is an illegal and overt attempt by the military or government elites to unseat the incumbent leader. Coups can manifest as a sudden, decisive exercise of political force, often involving a small group’s violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government, which may consist of the military or political elites within the system.

Furthermore, coups can also occur when a leader, who initially ascended to power through legal means, resorts to illegal tactics to prolong their stay in office. Notably, in Africa, leaders have frequently violated constitutions to secure their prolonged rule, such as abolishing term limits, age restrictions, or dissolving parliament. Any such illegal act against the constitution can be deemed a coup d’état.

Types of Coups

Coups can be categorized into several types. Firstly, there is the “self-coup,” also known as an “auto-coup.” This type of coup occurs when a president, initially elected through legal means, attempts to retain power through illegal methods. Such leaders may dissolve parliaments, unlawfully assume extraordinary powers, and essentially subvert the rule of law.

This phenomenon is all too common in Africa, where presidents have annulled constitutions, suspended courts, and assumed dictatorial powers. For example, in 2017, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda influenced Parliament to pass the “Age Limit Bill” to extend his term to seven years.

Secondly, there is the “soft coup,” characterized by the illegal overthrow of a government without force or violence, often called a silent or bloodless coup. An illustrative example is the military’s overthrow of Niger’s President Bazoum in July 2023, resulting in no loss of life. Thirdly, there is the “palace coup,” where one faction within the ruling group displaces another, akin to widespread protests.

It’s essential to distinguish coups from revolutions or rebellions. While both can lead to a change in leadership through unconstitutional means, coups typically involve a smaller, pre-planned group, whereas revolutions are often spontaneous and driven by larger, uncoordinated masses. In Africa, coup-makers have labelled some coups as revolutions to bestow a semblance of “democratic legitimacy” upon their actions.

Recent Coups in Africa

According to Al Jazeera (30 Aug 2023), Africa has witnessed the largest number of coup attempts globally, with 214 out of 486 attempts occurring since 1950, and at least 106 have succeeded. Data compiled by American researchers Jonathan M. Powell and Clayton L. Thyne reveal that at least 45 African nations have experienced at least one coup attempt since 1950.

This alarming statistic raises the question of whether coups are strategic interventions against poorly performing governments or the actions of power-hungry individuals in Africa.

Recent examples of coups in Africa include the takeover in Gabon by military officers who annulled election results, citing credibility concerns. President Ali Bongo Ondimba, the victor, is the son of former President Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon for over four decades. Such dynastic rule has fanned discontent and triggered coups across Africa.

Tara O’Connor, Director of Africa Risk Consulting, suggests that military interventions in Gabon should be viewed in the context of similar actions in neighbouring countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

In July 2023, Niger’s presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum inside his palace, citing deteriorating security and governance as reasons for seizing power. Burkina Faso, too, experienced a coup in January 2022, and in September of the same year, a countercoup unfolded. Additionally, Guinea saw a coup in September 2021 after President Alpha Conde altered the constitution to extend his rule, leading to widespread unrest.

Chad experienced a coup in April 2021 after President Idriss Deby was killed in battle. Mali witnessed coups in August 2020 and again nine months later. Sudan also faced military intervention in October 2021, resulting in an ongoing armed conflict.

African Presidents’ Hold on Power

Beyond external influences, bad governance and the opportunistic greed of the military contribute to the prevalence of coups in Africa. Some rulers resort to repressive tactics, including torture, fear, provocateurs, and spies, to maintain their grip on power, believing coups pose less risk to their regimes than revolutions.

In such cases, coups often serve as the means to exterminate potentially better governments, as exemplified by the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie in Ethiopia in 1974.

Conclusion

In conclusion, coups undeniably pose a significant menace in Africa. Leaders who ascend to power through coups often accumulate wealth while in office, and the fear of facing the electorate periodically drives them to maintain a tight grip on power. Political instability, including coups, has adverse economic consequences and discourages foreign investment.

However, coups cannot be completely eradicated in Africa, as many rulers are more concerned about coups within their own armies than any other threat. Since some African leaders lack respect for democratic ideals, coups can effectively remove them from power.

Thus, coups have the potential to achieve what revolutions aim for. Armed struggles are costly and unreliable means of achieving political change. Instead of trying to eliminate coups altogether, they should be harnessed as a last-resort mechanism to usher in better and more democratic governments, thereby serving as a vital check on power in Africa.

The author, Joseph Aciec Mathen, is a South Sudanese Lawyer, Writer, and Activist who can be contacted via email: josephaciec66@gmail.com.

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