By Cross Udo, Abuja
Experts and Policy analysts have argued that the recent upsurge of coup d’état in Africa could be a watchdog to democratic leaders to sit up or face the music.
The experts also advised regional power blocs like the African Union, AU, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, among others to compel African leaders to be more transparent and accountable.
The advice is coming on the heels of the recent coups in some African countries like in the Republic of Niger and Gabon where the military sacked the democratically elected government.
Nextier experts, Patrick Okigbo, a founding partner, and Victor Alikor, a policy research analyst, in a report titled, “A case for democracy,” advised that the tenets of democracy should be upheld, and that disregard for the rule of law must be sanctioned.
They said if ECOWAS is ready to send in soldiers to unseat coupists, they should be prepared to sanction any politicians that rig elections, adding that the same energy the regional power bloc and international community use to speak against coupists can be channelled to democratic African leaders with dictatorial and illiberal styles of governance to forestall further coups.
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They noted with dismay that within the period it appeared that the coup had declined in Africa, her politicians carried on as if they were unaccountable to anyone as they used rigged elections to sanctify their rot.
While rhetorically asking whether there is any benefit to the coup scare, they said, “Maybe. With the decline of coups, African politicians carried on as if they were accountable to no one. They are unaccountable to anyone as they use rigged elections to sanctify their rot.
“They took solace in the assumption that Western governments would assist them in repelling the coupists. Unsurprisingly, Ali Bongo’s response to his removal from office was to call on his foreign friends to ‘make noise’.
“However, it is dawning on such leaders that no cavalry is waiting to advance and perpetuate them in power. Hopefully, this realisation will cause the leaders to reassess their actions and seek regime protection from the masses.
“Africa’s democracy is fractured. Yet, it holds the elements critical for Africa’s development. For this statement to be accurate, the people must retain the power to vote in and out their preferred politicians.
“The continent must recommit itself to democratic principles. However, given that rams do not vote for Sallah, there is a need for “veto players” to force the government to fix its democracy.
“Regional power blocs like the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and others must compel African leaders to be more transparent and accountable. The tenets of democracy should be upheld, and disregard for the rule of law must be sanctioned.
“If ECOWAS is ready to send in soldiers to unseat coupists, they should be prepared to sanction any politicians that rig elections. The same energy the regional power bloc and international community use to speak against coupists can be channelled to democratic African leaders with dictatorial and illiberal styles of governance to forestall further coups.
“Democracy, as evident in the West and most of the global north, makes a good case for development. Few exceptions have skewed the intended purpose of democracy: people-driven, participatory, and inclusive growth. Despite a few glimpses of unsustainable achievements, illiberal governments and benevolent dictators will never drive prosperity and development in Africa.
“The coups in Africa could be a watchdog to democratic leaders to sit up or face the music. The people must be part of the process. Unlike in the past, performance and governance validations must come from the people, not the colonialists.”
Stressing that Africa had a coup problem, they relied on the position of Jonathan M. Powell and Clayton L. Thyne, to the effect that “the continent accounts for 214 of the 486 attempted or successful global coups from 1950. It accounted for 106 of the 242 successful ones. Indeed, 45 of the 54 African nations have experienced at least one coup attempt since 1950.”
Continuing, they said, “In recent years, the continent appeared to rid itself of the virus. For instance, in the decade to 2021, Africa recorded less than one successful coup per year. However, the continent has seen 13 coup attempts in the last three years, with eight as successful.
“In 2021, there were six coup attempts, with four successful, while in 2022, there were five coup attempts, with two successful. In the nine months of 2023, Africa recorded two successful coup attempts. According to António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, “military coups are back.” No cancer is a welcome development.
“Given the continent’s poor economic performance under democratic regimes, several commentators argue that democracy has failed. Some commentators say that countries should be able to try other options.”
