African Coups: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions.

Byline: Areej Saeed

On August 30, 2023, a dramatic turn of events unfolded in Gabon as military officials staged a coup, seizing control of the nation. This upheaval followed controversial elections in which President Ali Bongo secured his third consecutive victory. The coup leaders made a public appearance on state television, where they announced the dissolution of state institutions and the complete closure of borders. In addition, President Ali Bongo found himself placed under house arrest.

The military officials unanimously declared General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the former head of the presidential guard, as the president of the transitional committee tasked with leading the country during this period of instability. In response to these events, hundreds of people took to the streets of the Gabonese capital, Libreville, to commemorate the military's intervention. However, the international community, including the United Nations, the African Union, and notably France, the former colonial ruler of the country, strongly condemned the coup. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also took to Twitter to express his condemnation, stating, 'The UN stands by the people of Gabon. I firmly condemn the ongoing coup attempt as a means to resolve the post-electoral crisis in the country.

I call on the national army and security forces to guarantee the physical integrity of the President of the Republic and his family.' Gabon's recent military takeover marked the end of the Bongo family's nearly six-decade reign. This event is part of a concerning trend in West and Central Africa, where eight successful coups have occurred since 2020. Notably, it is the second coup in just two months, echoing the recent military takeover in Niger. The surge of Military Coups in West and Central Africa Between 1960 and 2000, Africa experienced a relatively high frequency of military coups, occurring at an average rate of about four per year. However, following 2000, a period of relative democratic stability led to a decline in military interventions across the continent.

Yet, in the past three years, the Sahel region has witnessed a resurgence of coups, creating a ripple effect of military interventions in countries such as Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad. This surge in military coups across Africa, particularly in former French colonies, is not coincidental. It stems from a complex interplay of factors, including deteriorating domestic conditions...