Indeed, citizens in these countries responded to the news of military takeovers with protests not against the intervening military, but the removed political leaders. In a much-anticipated statement, the African Union (AU) - a union of 55 . The council of the 55-nation bloc made the decision after mutinous soldiers overthrew Niger's . There is also popular frustration that the international community often sound the alarm when coups occur, and not when democracies are routinely undermined. In Guinea, the September 2021 military coup was the consequence of a months-long political crisis, triggered by President Alpha Condes bid to remove presidential term-limit restrictions through a constitutional referendum in March 2020 a move that allowed him to seek a third term in office. Less than a year after the fall of president Blaise Compaore in a popular revolt, Burkina Faso's president Michel Kafando is overthrown in a coup led by his own presidential guard in September 2015. A historical deep dive into the Sahel region, where most of these military coups are occurring, shows that most of the states there are confronted by the challenge posed by jihadist groups. As recently as Tuesday, an attempted coup was thwarted in Guinea Bissau. Disclaimer : We respect your thoughts and views! Mainassara is killed in April by dissident soldiers in an ambush at Niamey airport, paving the way for a third coup in the countrys tumultuous history. Doumbouya has pledged to return power to elected civilians within three years. Doumbouya became interim president and promised a transition to democratic elections but has not said when those will take place. Armies have been analysed in terms of their social and ethnic composi-tion, training, ideology, and socialising influences. ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) Mutinous soldiers in Niger this week overthrew the democratically elected government of President Mohamed Bazoum, adding to a growing list of military regimes in West Africa's Sahel region and raising fears of regional destabilization. The roots of this wave lie in regional instability, poor governance by elected leaders, and many successful past coups. Of course, whether this trend will have long-term consequences for the wider region will be dependent on how the militaries will choose to manage state-society relations, and whether they will be able to maintain public support. In November, 53 people, including 49 gendarmes militia forces, were killed when jihadists attacked a camp in Inata. by Olivia Angelino, Thomas J. Bollyky, Elle Ruggiero and Isabella Turilli The military coup in Niger, which began unfolding on Wednesday, has been widely condemned by neighbours and international partners including the United States, the United Nations, the African . Academic and Higher Education Webinars, A Conversation With Secretary Antony Blinken, Virtual Event Nigers Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou calls on the countrys soldiers to release President Bazoum and settle their demands through dialogue. There is a focus on elections being free and fair, and not enough focus on the way democracies are undermined, said Hassan. Here are all the times the military overthrew the government in Niger: In April, Lieutenant Colonel Seyni Kountche leads a military coup, ending Hamani Dioris 14-year rule, suspending the countrys constitution and dissolving the National Assembly. In Nigeria, for example, since the return to civil rule in 1999, former military generals have largely led the country. West Africa has seen coups and military takeovers in three countries in 2022. 4 coups have taken place in West Africa over the past one year. In Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso and Guinea, young military officers aged between 38 and 41, largely from special forces units, took control of power from ageing, democratically elected leaders. CNN In just over a year, Africa has experienced three successful coups (two in Mali and one more recently in Guinea), one unsuccessful coup attempt in Niger, and an arbitrary military. They provide their [own] food, generate their own electricity, infrastructure. Mamadou Tandja wins Nigers presidential election, defeating Mahamadou Issoufou, a former prime minister. Folahanmi Aina does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. On the morning of Sunday September 5th, 2021, military officers surrounded the presidential palace in Conakry, as part of a plan to take over power. Nigeria still exhibits fault lines of religion and ethnicity, as well as abuse of privilege by the elites over the rest of the citizens. Mapping the contours of Jihadist groups in the Sahel. His former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa succeeds him and Mugabe dies in Singapore two years later at the age of 95. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. Citizens in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea are punishing corrupt political elites who have long ruled. Combined, these conditions have given fuel to jihadism in the troubled region, leaving the affected states in perpetual fragility and weakness. Coups enjoy domestic support as civilian rule falters. The most important thing is providing safety and security.. He covers corporate Africa, analysing some of the continent's leading companies and the economies in which they operate. It is questionable whether tying suspension of U.S. assistance to coups advances American interests. All rights reserved. Unfortunately, on the 9th day of the offensive, he was killed on the frontline. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. According to a west African diplomat, Ecowas was finding it challenging to maintain pressure on military regimes to commit to transitions to democracy without alienating local populations. He agrees to step down two days later. Citizens are dissatisfied with multilateral institutions such as ECOWAS and the African Union. Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso were all suspended from the summit following coups. The constitution is suspended and all state bodies dissolved. The first coup happened on August 18, 2020, when soldiers ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keta from office and seized power. While the specific contexts differ in each country, numerous underlying factors and major challenges facing the some countries in the region have come into focus. The resurgence of military coups in West Africa has been alarming in the last decade. At an urgent Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) summit of west African leaders on Thursday, Ghanas president, Nana Akufo-Addo, reflected the alarm in regional capitals. Less than a year after his controversial re-election, a coup removed him from power. But the people who live in the cities have a different perception from people who live in the rural areas, where youre likely to find more worry, he said. Appearing on state television, military officers read from a statement, calmly announcing the takeover of the state. Political tensions had been rising in Niger since Tandja dissolved the parliament in 2009 and extended his own mandate following a referendum beyond a second term. West African regional bloc ECOWAS responded this month with sanctions, including closing its members' borders with Mali. The complex, evolving relationship between jihadism and military coups in West Africas Sahel region is best understood in how the activities of the former preempts the emergence of the latter. Between April 11 and April 20, Chad's former President Idriss Dby took Commander-In-Chief to a whole new level by going to the battle field with the military as they fought against rebels. The obvious result has been the continued incapacity of the affected states to deal with their many challenges. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. In September, mutinous troops led by lieutenant-colonel Mamady Doumbouya take over in Guinea, arresting 83-year-old President Alpha Conde. But we are here at the level that we are trying to survive. 3 coups in 3 West African countries in 1 year - GhanaWeb Copyright - newindianexpress.com 2023. Breaking the Cycle: Military Coups in West Africa 4 coups have taken place in West Africa over the past one year These bodies may be quick to condemn military takeovers, but they are slow to express concern about poor governance, such as altering of constitutions for regime survival. The new spike in power grabs comes as the Sahel, the vast region south of the Sahara Desert, faces growing violence from Islamic extremists, which in turn has caused people to turn against elected governments in both Mali and Burkina Faso. You are also agreeing to our. Indeed, in all three countries military interventions came not as a surprise but on the back of long-ignored systemic failures and growing societal discontent. Supporters of the military coup in Niger gathered at a stadium in the capital city of Niamey on Aug. 6 to greet soldiers of Niger's National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland. Poverty and insecurity are an indication of fragility. The coup leader, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, said. In my opinion, based on my research, is that the failure of civilian governments to improve living conditions, provide leadership and protect citizens is a major threat to democracy in the west African sub-region. Niger coup: Are military takeovers on the rise in Africa? Military governments are still in place in each country. This was the case in Burkina Faso. Periodic elections are held, which legitimises civilians in power. From the 1960s to . Army strongman Colonel Assimi Goita survives an assassination attempt on July 20 at a Bamako mosque. Corruption is often associated with the affected Sahelian states in West Africa. African Union suspends Niger in crackdown over coup | CNN According to the country's constitution, the Speaker of parliament was supposed to assume the role of president in the face of such an event. (Photo | AP). |A+AA-, Burkina Faso mutinous soldiers walk outside the Guillaume Ouedraogo military camp in Ouagadougou. Unblock notifications in browser settings. By Eric Schmitt, Declan Walsh and Elian Peltier Eric Schmitt . Having to bear the brunt, over the years, of fighting these jihadist groups, while sustaining multiple casualties, has also contributed to disenchantment within the ranks of the military. But amid widespread opposition to his rule, multiple socioeconomic crises and infighting among his top military aids, even regional support did not save Condes presidency. Mutinuous soldiers in Niger have overthrown the nation's democratically elected government, adding it to a growing list of countries in West Africa's Sahel region where military regimes rule ABUJA . States that have been free of significant PI since 1990 are Some blame the rise in coups on the fact that the juntas know theyll face little more than strongly worded statements. This is an opportunity for Burkina Faso to retain its integrity.. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), United States, France, and the United Nations also strongly condemns the coup, calling it unconstitutional. Others still have work to do in getting the military back to the barracks permanently. West Africa grapples with wave of military coups - POLITICO Although the region has made some headway with efforts to propagate democracy, it remains superficial. In Burkina Faso, repeated attacks by armed groups and a failure to govern (partly evidenced in the apparent ill-equipping of the countrys security forces against such groups) created a security vacuum. The coup leader, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, said afterward that Burkina Faso would return to constitutional order "when the conditions are right". There was also a recent attempted coup in Guinea-Bissau. It looks increasingly hard to argue against the idea of coup contagion, said one expert. Legal definitions perforce are rigid and reduce diplomatic flexibility, thereby reducing U.S. influence over the militaries that so often are the authors of coups. Today, citizens in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea clearly feel that they have found their voice, and punished corrupt political elites who have long ruled their countries, by ascribing legitimacy to military takeovers. By entering your email and clicking subscribe, you're agreeing to receive announcements from CFR about our products and services, as well as invitations to CFR events. Colonel Assimi Goita, who had served as interim vice president, was elevated to the presidency. The West African state of Burkina Faso, where the military has seized power for the second time in a year, is the latest in a string of sub-Saharan countries that have suffered coups in the past decad Hassane Hamadou, director of the Norwegian Refugee Council in Burkina Faso, says new, dismal records are being broken every month. The empty seat reserved for the head of state of Burkina Faso at the Ecowas summit on Thursday. The country descends into sectarian chaos pitting Seleka rebels against vigilante self-defence groups from the Christian and animist majority known as the anti-Balaka. The military ousted President Roch Kabore last week, blaming him for failing to contain violence by Islamist militants. Beyond the long-term threats to constitutional democracy and security they were born out of, the recent coups in these three countries had another surprising common aspect: civilian support. Citizens need to feel better off with civilians in power. In Guinea, Mali, and Chad, ruling elites are largely separate or isolated from the people they ostensibly lead. Following the period from 1957-1960, when most countries in West Africa broke loose from colonialism and became independent, the need for an integrated and classless Meanwhile, Russian influence in the region has grown. Other West African states offer evidence that . The continued emergence of coups is likely to be capitalised upon by jihadists as reflecting efforts which are finally yielding desired results the forced displacement of democratic systems of government. Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan later vows to step aside but the pro-democracy protests continue. Some of the sanctions have been tough, but produced complicated situations, such as in Mali, where they are really suffering from those sanctions now, but the people seem to be supporting the junta even more. This marked yet another one in a series of coups that have taken place in the region over the past year. In May 2021, the Malian military takes over yet again after the civilian leaders of an interim government remove soldiers from some key posts. These measures tend to further isolate affected states rather than improving transparency and accountability. Abdramane said Nigers borders were closed, a nationwide curfew declared, and all institutions of the republic suspended. Military interventions in Africa - an overview - Anadolu Ajans Niger coup: ECOWAS delegation meets deposed president, military govt We bring you daily editor picks from the best Business Insider news content so you can stay updated on the latest topics and conversations on the African market, leaders, careers and lifestyle. Global Climate Agreements: Successes and Failures, Backgrounder But wishful thinking alone is not sufficient. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. By The Numbers: Coups in Africa VOA Special Report But, especially after regional powerhouse Nigeria moved from military to civilian rule in 1999, there was a strong sense that the days of military coups were over. He won a third term in the October 2020 vote. A plane carrying . Its dividends, in the form of good governance, remain elusive. The military government promises to turn Niger into an example of democracy and of good governance after accusing Tandja of amending the constitution. Research Associate, University of Bradford. Write an article and join a growing community of more than 169,100 academics and researchers from 4,692 institutions. Ghanas President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the current ECOWAS chairman, called Thursday on his fellow leaders to address the problem of coups collectively and decisively before it devastates the whole region.. The military has many peoples confidence, said Maiga, adding that questions of democracy or military dictatorship were less critical because of the security crisis. attempted coup was thwarted in Guinea Bissau. Operations by national armies against jihadist groups have led to serial human rights abuses, often in rural areas where the conflict is most acute and where people will probably be less supportive of the army, said Oumar B, assistant professor of International Relations at Cornell University. One decade, 13 coups: Take a look at the list of African countries The African Union has suspended Niger following the takeover of the West African country by a military junta on July 26. Military Coups in Africa: A Continuation of Politics by Other Means? West Africa has seen coups and military takeovers in three countries in 2022. New legislative elections are held in early 2011, with Issoufou winning in a presidential run-off. However, Bazoum pledged to safeguard hard-won democratic gains in Niger, saying on the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter: All Nigeriens who love democracy and freedom would want this.. The views expressed in comments published on newindianexpress.com are those of the comment writers alone. None of these coups, or the challenges that led to them, materialised suddenly. The military hands power to an interim civilian government. Years of jihadist insurgency have led people in the region to question the military, political and economic influence of the former colonial power, France, which is scaling down Operation Barkhane, the anti-insurgent operation it started in August 2014. The approach further entrenches the unintended consequence of pushing the vulnerable into joining jihadist groups, rather than pulling them away from extremist ideologies. In principle, the United States ceases assistance [PDF] to countries that have experienced a coup. Algeria has had difficult relations with France - its former colonial ruler - sparring over Sahel security and other regional issues, disputes over their shared history, French media coverage of Algeria and human rights issues. Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals, A man uses his mobile phone beside army soldiers after they deposed President Kabore in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, January 24, 2022. The challenges are usually listed as inept governance, corruption, rising insecurity and popular revolts amid economic hardship. While the situation across the region continues to look bleak, it is important to note that democracy still stands a chance of surviving. A man holds a portrait of Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba who has taken the reins of Burkina Faso, in Ouagadougou, on Jan. 25, 2022. On the night of 13 January 1963, Togo's President Sylvanus Olympio was shot dead by rebels in the first military coup staged in Africa. Colonel Mamady Doumbouya addressing Guineans after the. West Africa's ECOWAS rejects Niger junta's proposed three-year delay Temitope J. Laniran does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. If the underlying factors that triggered the spate of violent extremism across the Sahel region continue, the militarys penchant for seizing political power might grow. In Guinea, Mali, and Chad, heads of state removed from office had enjoyed dubious legitimacy. But more recently it appears that the regional bloc is relatively weak and individual countries are challenged by economic, social, political and security issues. In Mali, the current bout of instability dates from the 2012 coup against longtime political strongman Amadou Tour. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. Mutinous soldiers detained President Mohamed Bazoum at his official residence in the capital Niamey. Democracy appears to have come to stay in parts of the region, such as Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. But, especially after regional powerhouse Nigeria moved from military to civilian rule in 1999, there was a strong sense that . Follow us for updates. Recent revelations coming out of Burkina Faso seem to suggest that authorities in France knew about the coup that took out Thomas Sankara and may even have ordered it. The latest coup in West Africa took place in Burkina Faso. What is BRICS, which countries want to join and why? See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Resurgence of Military Coups in West Africa - ResearchGate The recent coup in Guinea is part of a resurgence of "coup culture" in West Africa. ALSO READ |Here is a timeline of events since the army seized power in Burkina Faso. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. Terms of Use |, Home | Nation | World | Cities | Business | Columns | Entertainment | Sport | Magazine | The Sunday Standard. In Burkina Faso, civilian president Roch Marc Christian Kabore was removed because of rising internal displacement, widespread poverty, inequality and insecurity. Associate Fellow, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), London, Liberian researcher and political analyst, Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. In Mali, thousands of protesters took to the streets in support of the ruling military after the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, imposed sanctions over delayed elections. | APAP Photo/Sophie Garcia. Abstract. Colonel Amadou Abdramane, spokesperson of the group, said on Wednesday that defence and security forces had decided to put an end to the regime that you know due to the deteriorating security situation and bad governance. The legitimate fears that citizens across the continent can follow their lead can put underperforming democratic rulers on their toes and push them to swiftly and efficiently address political and socioeconomic challenges facing their countries. In March 2012, troops overthrow Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure in the run-up to elections, accusing him of failing to handle a Tuareg rebellion in the country's north. by Lindsay Maizland Jihadist groups in the region include Jamaatu Ansaril Muslimina fi Biladis Sudan (popularly referred to as Ansaru), Jamaat Ahl as Sunnah lid-Dawah wal-Jihad (Boko Haram), the Islamic State in the West African Province , the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara and Jamaat Nusratul Islam wal-Muslimin. Timeline: A history of coups in Niger | News | Al Jazeera Current Malian President Assimi Gota in June removed the countrys interim head of state, less than a year after Gota initiated a coup against President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and installed himself as interim vice president. Kountche forms the 12-member Supreme Military Council (SMC) which takes control of government affairs.

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