Examining the Reasons For and Effects of Military Coups in West Africa since 1990: The Obstacles to Democracy and Progress
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/ijhss.1536Keywords:
military coups, reasons, effects, obstacles, preventionAbstract
Purpose: This article sought to understand the reasons for military coups in West Africa Since 1990. With this, we would be able to assess their effects and the obstacles these coups present to democracy in West Africa. It is clear that military takeovers have posed a constant threat to democratic rule in West Africa. There are many different reasons why military coups occur in West Africa, including ethnic conflicts, economic grievances, and corruption. Military leaders have occasionally defended their actions by arguing that they were required to reestablish order and solve perceived shortcomings in civilian authority. This is why it's necessary to investigate these claims. Coups have wide-ranging effects which include violations of human rights among others, warranting mitigating circumstances.
Methodology: The article uses a qualitative research design. Information on the research came purely from the review of scholarly articles and reports on the topic and it covers the whole of West Africa. The information presented is based on a synthesis of findings from these sources, with a focus on identifying the obstacles to democracy and progress posed by military coups in the region.
Findings: From synthesization of information from other reviews, we discovered that West Africa is one of the most affected parts of Africa as far as military coups are concerned. We equally found out that though not so unique to West Africa, poor governance, political instability, neocolonialism, plays a major in promoting military coups.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Knowledge acquired from this study would be able to make readers gain specific knowledge on why military coups are frequent in West Africa and to see how such coups can be avoided in other parts of Africa so as to promote democracy and human rights. One unique point included in this research that has been too investigated by many authors is the part played by neocolonialism in coups in West Africa. From a practical standpoint, the analysis and recommendations would inform policymakers, and stakeholders working on issues related to democracy, governance, and security in West Africa.
Downloads
References
Acemoglu, D., & Robinson, J. A. (2006). Economic origins of dictatorship and democracy. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Adebanwi, W., & Obadare, E. (2011). “When the military is in charge: The Nigerian experience”. African Affairs, 110(439), 209-228.
African Union. (2019). Report on the state of governance in Africa.
Akinwotu, E. (2022). “Contagious coups: What is fuelling military takeovers across West Africa”? The Guardian.
Asante, S. K. B. (2002). “The role of civil society in consolidating democracy in Africa: A Ghanaian perspective”. African Journal of Political Science, 7(1), 97-110.
Bach, D. C. (2020). “ECOWAS and the challenge of democratic governance in West Africa”. Journal of Democracy in Africa, 5(1), 21-38.
Barka, H. B. & Ncube, M. (2012). Political Fragility in Africa: Are Military Coups d’Etat a Never-Ending Phenomenon? African Development Fund, African Development Bank.
BBC News. (2020). Mali coup: Military leaders promise elections after ousting Keïta. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53869291
BBC News. (2021, May 31). Mali coup: West African leaders suspend country from bloc after second coup. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57326472
Bøås, M., & Hagberg, S. (2016). “Military coups in West Africa since the 1990s: Successes and failures”. African Affairs, 115(459), 246-267.
Bratton, M., & van de Walle, N. (1997). Democratic experiments in Africa: Regime transitions in comparative perspective. Cambridge University Press.
Diamond, L. (1999). Developing democracy: Toward consolidation. JHU Press.
Folola, T. (2022). Are coups back in Africa? Premium Times.
Harsch, E. (2020). West Africa grapples with the return of military coups. Deutsche Welle. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/west-africa-grapples-with-the-return-of-military-coups/a-54848790
Kew, D. (2019). Understanding coups: Types, causes, and prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/understanding-coups-types-causes-and-prevention
Kuenzi, M. (2013). “The impact of military coups on democratization, economic development, and human rights: A systematic review of the evidence”. International Journal of Comparative Sociology, 54(4), 303-320.
Lecocq, B., & Raffestin, L. (2015). “The Malian crisis: Causes and consequences”. African Affairs, 114(455), 1-23.
Lecocq, B., & Raffestin, L. (2021). “Mali's coup d'état: Causes and consequences”. African Affairs, 120(479), 1-21.
Luckham, R. (2001). “Conflict and poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa: An assessment of the issues and Evidence”. IDS Working Paper No. 128. Brighton, Sussex: Institute of Development Issues.
Maiangwa, B. (2021). Has ECOWAS made West Africa a safer place? Yes, but its track record is lumpy. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/has-ecowas-madewest-africa-a-safer-place-yes-but-its-track-record-is-lumpy-157981.
McBride, M. (2004). Crises, coups, and entry-deterring reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa. Paper presented at the Public Choice Society Seminar at the University of California, June (2004).
Murray, R. (2011). “ECOWAS and the promotion of peace and security in West Africa: A study of the mechanisms for conflict prevention, management, resolution, and peacekeeping”. African Security Review, 20(3), 99-113.
Ojo, E. O. (2018). “Military coups in West Africa: Causes, consequences and solutions”. Journal of Social Sciences, 23(2), 121-130.
Oyebade, A. (2007). The curse of Berlin: Africa after the Cold War. Boydell & Brewer.
Sayid, A. M. (2022). The recent wave of military coups in West Africa. Daily Sabah. https://www.dailysabah.com/opinion/op-ed/the-recent-wave-of-military-coups-in-westafrica
Schoenfeld, H. (2020). The limits of regional security cooperation: ECOWAS and the French intervention in Mali. Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 38(3), 347-364.
Sesay, A. (2015). “Neocolonialism in West Africa: The case of Sierra Leone”. Journal of Pan African Studies, 8(4), 147-163.
Tejpar, J., & Albuquerque, A. L. (2015). Challenges to Peace and Security in West Africa: The Role of ECOWAS. Studies in African Security. https://www.foi.se/download/18.7fd35d7f166c56ebe0bb38f/1542369060258/Challenge s-to-Peace-and-Security-in-West-Africa_FOI-Memo-5382.pdf
The Guardian. (2015). Burkina Faso coup: military says it will cede power to civilian government. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/22/burkina-faso-coup-military-says-it-will-cede-power-to-civilian-government
United Nations Development Programme. (2014). Preventing coups in West Africa: institutional, economic, and political reform. Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/Democratic%20Governance/Preventing%20Coups%20in%20West%20Africa.pdf
United Nations Development Programme. (2020). Addressing socio-economic challenges in West Africa. Retrieved from https://www.westafrica.undp.org/
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Mannjong Callistus Acho, Follah Placate Tacham
![Creative Commons License](http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/4.0/88x31.png)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.