Indeed, a field study tour conducted in 1960 1 the year of independence as it has been called to investigate the place of the armed forces in societies in africa did not provide the evidence on which to forecast the eventual spate of coups. The african unions chequered history with military coups. African union peace and security, the african standby force asf, web. Scarcity coups, military coups as conventionally understood, are still being staged on a regular basisespecially in lessdeveloped african countries. Some thought the continent had begun to shake off its reputation for military takeovers especially after the democratic changes of the 1990s. Following the period from 19571960, when most countries in west africa broke loose from colonialism and became independent, the need for an integrated and classless. Burkina faso officially the republic of burkina faso is a landlocked country in west africa. Environmental research letters letter open access climate variability, food production shocks, and violent conflict in subsaharan africa to cite this article. Is africa saying goodbye to the era of military coups. While researchers have differed over the precise factors leading to coups and the level of their predictability, this paper shifts the focus to political and economic determinants, which have hitherto escaped. If the military succeeds in its ambition of permanently ousting omar albashir, this will be the fifth.
Coups detat, military coups, coupproofing, extreme bounds analysis. The impact of military coup detat on political development in nigeria olorungbemi simeon toyin ph. Considering what happens in the postcoup environment provides even more compelling evi. Malis military coup serves as a prime example of this. Looking at south africa and ghana, this chapter compares two cases of relative success in regard to democratization and the establishment of civilian control in subsaharan africa. Coups detat in africa, 19462004 country month day year success leaders deaths mauritania 6 8 2003 2 maj. Ruth first political powerin africa and the coup detat. So, why are coups so common in some parts of africa. Impact of military coups detat on west africas socio. Home master of military art and science theses impact of military coups detat on west africas socioeconomic and political development. On april 12, 1980, a military coup led by master sergeant samuel doe of the krahn ethnic.
Subsaharan africa has a young population that is on the move, seeking to gain from any opportunities or advantages it can find. Moreover, major acquisitions on the part of algeria and morocco starting in 2006, and potential. Squeaky wheels and troop loyalty university of kentucky. They are, however, an important part of the security of world energy exports, and the struggle against terrorism and extremism. Since 2000 there have been successful coups in the central african republic and togo, and failed coups in sao tome, principe and equatorial guinea. The french military in africa council on foreign relations. The advent of coups detat gradually emphasized the decisive role of weapons as the surest route to power and personal enrichment, and their proliferation increased with the entry of junior military officers into the political arena. But unlike the one of johnny paul koroma, strassers coup was welcomed by the people.
Coup detat in africa african studies quarterly university of florida. Dec 08, 2010 the military balance in north africa, and internal security developments in each country, receive less attention than the arabisraeli balance and the balance in the gulf. Why does greg gutfeld wear a ring on the middle finger on his left hand. Harold mcmillan, a british prime minister later called.
The military coup of captain valentine strasser was, just like that of johnny paul koroma undemocratic and unacceptable. Implications for governance and security in west africa edrissa sanyang and sanna camara the gambia after elections. There have been more than 200 coups in africa in the past 50 years, and it is probably the. Only a few african leaders have voluntary left office. Since the years of independence, africa has experienced more than 200 military coups, counting both successful and failed coup attempts. On 16 september 2015, a military coup detat against the kafando government was. There have been several cases of military coup in africa.
West africa is one of the worlds most unstable regions. In decalos view, current theory about military intervention in african politics does not sufficiently emphasize the internal structure of each countrys military and the idiosyncracies of their leaders. May 14, 2015 what makes africa so vulnerable to coups. Pages in category military in africa the following 8 pages are in this category, out of 8 total. Which african countries have never witnessed a military coup. Burundian forces arrested the leader of a failed coup on friday, and president. Top 20 most brutal and ruthless dictators in africa. A brief history of famous african coups and their endings it is much too early to call the results of the military takeover of the zimbabwean government by the zimbabwean defence force. In west africa alone, there occurred six junior officers coups between 1980 and 1986. Johnson theaugust i 983 overthrow of major jeanbaptiste ouedraogo by captain thomas sankara in upper volta now burkina faso, the new years eve abrupt termination in nigeria of black africas largest. Pdf explaining african military coups detat, 19601982. Though the takeover had many characteristics of a coup, the zdf has been stressing that it has not carried out a coup.
Boys walk behind patrolling soldiers in bujumbura, burundi, may 15, 2015. Military coups in africa the african neocolonialism that is selfinflicted outline thesis statement. View homework help africa eq5 from africa 220 at columbia college. Jan 07, 2016 combating coups detat in africa, 19502014. The army has often played a determining but ambiguous role in the african political process. But from 1990 to 2010, the region witnessed 67 coup attempts, still a high occurrence in comparison to the rest of the world, but nonetheless a decrease of about one. From the time of the egyptian revolution in 1950s, africa has experienced over ninety military coups, though a number of them have been unsuccessful. Military coup therefore is an organized action by the armed forces of a country meant to overthrow and replace its government. A look at the string of bizarre events that eschewed the playbook for military takeovers. Explaining african military coups detat accessed on the structural sources of military coups in postcolonial africa, 19571984 does democratization reduce the risk of military interventions in. Taking stock of good coups in africa the washington post. A coup detat can be defined as a quick and decisive seizure of governmental power by a strong military or political group.
Its complicated most scholars are reluctant to draw broad conclusions. Onwumechili provides an exciting perspective on african military coups and reminds us that democracy is not synonymous solely with western societies. The successful coup in cote divoire in 1998 began a cycle of political instability that has ruined a country once seen as the jewel of africa. New coup plotters arent finding acceptance on the continent as easy as their predecessors once did. The structural sources of military coups in postcolonial. Africa editor for democracy watch news, and correspondent for paris based internet sans frontieres. The first coup in west africa occurred on january, 1963.
It is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. Founded in 1912 as the south african native national congress, it changed its name in 1923. Praetorianism found a particularly fertile ground in postindependence africa. Military coups and military regimes in africa by samuel decalo in the past several years there has been a proliferation of studies on coup detats in africa and the political role of african military structures. He examines democracies in traditional africa and shows how these socieites clearly defined and limited the roles of traditional african armies. It is becoming increasingly difficult for a coup detat to succeed in africa. Why military rule should be discouraged in african politics. An ability to explain the conditions that prompt coups and perhaps thereby to predict their occurrence would greatly contribute to our understanding of the dominant mode of governmental change in black africa. The north african military balance center for strategic and.
The military history of africa is one of the oldest military histories in the world. In 1965 and 1966 alone there were eleven coups with the continent by which most took place. To what extent can african military coups be explained by environmental socio economicpolitical culture factors. However, military coups are a regular occurrence in only of the 44. Despite a few outliers, africa has actually witnessed a meaningful decline in coup activity since the 1950s. This suggests that coups as threats to regime survival are far more of a consideration for authoritarian regimes than for democracies. The 2000s saw a comparative reduction but the military still routinely continued usurping political power through the barrel of the gun in some pockets of africa. D student of political science at the department of political science university of ibadan ibadan, nigeria abstract the military is not by inclination trained to rule, but to defend. After a period of respite in the 1990s, the african continent was once again the scene of many military coups in the first decade of the 21st century, with 27 attempts at takeover. The paper is an enquiry into civil military relations and leadership crisis in 21st century africa with emphasis on mauritania, guinea, niger and mali. Nigeria, built in the late nineteenth century by british colonial intervention, is africa s most populous country. Military coups in africathe african neocolonialism. While both countries have created comprehensive frameworks for civilian control after their democratization in the 1990s, the setup and performance of oversight. Combating coups detat in africa, 19502014 africa center.
From this background, onwumechili makes readers appreciate that modern african armies are deviant. Africa is a continent of many regions with diverse populations speaking hundreds of different languages and practicing an array of cultures and religions. Whilst the propensity for military coups in africa can be attributed to a number of variables, the resultant impact that unconstitutional political takeovers have had on africa s positive political development and good governance is injurious. Military coups and military regimes in africa scientia. Coups remain frequent in subsaharan africa and coups are the main threat to democracy in the region, by harming democratic consolidation and economic development, and by provoking further political instability. Sudan has had more coup attempts than any other country in africa. The question is whether this is a unique burkina faso experiment or something of a new normal in africa.
This number is not inclusive of the numerous occurrences where individual administration leaders were removed by force without a change in regime. From 1970 to 1989, according to a study by the african development bank, there were 99 coup attempts in subsaharan africa. This research was supported by the new security challenges programme of the economic and social research. Military officers claimed that they had ousted president ali bongo, who was reelected in 2016 after a controversial election and protests. The journal of modern african studies the african union as a norm. Apr 17, 2012 more broadly, in the last 60 years, the region has seen more than 40 coups. Between 1950 and 2000, 53 african countries were subject to military coups leading to regime change. The center for systemic peace recorded 386 alleged, plotted, attempted and successful coups in africa between 1960 and 20. Subsaharan africa is home to some of the poorest countries in the world. It is noted that the researchers and the coupmakers dilfer in many ways in their attempts to explain the military interventions. This thesis was written in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the masters of military art and science, general studies degree from the u.
T he central african republic car is currently awash in media coverage regarding the ongoing sectarian violence and general upheaval in the country. Feb 06, 2015 the violence in the central african republic needs to be understood in the historical context of foreign interests in the country. Salah ould henena, abderrahmane ould mini, mohammed ould cheikhna, mohammed ould salek 15 mauritania 8 10 2004 3 knights of change 0 mauritania 8 3 2005 1 col. During the absence of ali bongo, who was receiving medical treatment in morocco, armed rebels in the capital city libreville took hostages and declared that they. November 24, 2017 september 8, 2015 by africanvault. Eyadema became the president of togo in 1967 after he led a military coup against the incumbent president, a man he helped bring to power in a bloody military coup. In the aftermath of the intervention by the military in zimbabwe that led to yesterdays resignation of president robert mugabe, there was a strong call from zimbabweans for the african union au and the southern african development community sadc to not get involved. Elections and coups in sierra leone, 1967 the journal of. The impact of military coup detat on political development. Conflict trends in africa marshall page 2 of 7 coups detat in africa, 19462004 country month day year success leaders deaths chad 3 31 1977 2 sublt.
Including this most recent intervention, there have been 15 four of them successful. In democratic terms, the most explicit form of military intrusion in politics is the military coup detat the military execution of a sudden and unconstitutional change of government or regime. Adverse regime changes in africa, 19552004 country month begin year begin month end year end description polity change sudan 11 1958 11 1958 parliamentary democracy overthrown in military coup. Military coups see beginning of their end in africa huffpost. An organization dedicated to obtaining equal voting and civil rights for black inhabitants of south africa. Burkina faso lies mostly between latitudes 9 and 15n a small area is north of 15, and. Rather than solve african contemporary political and socio economic problems, military. Ghanaian writer elizabeth ohene tackles the issue of military coups for the bbc and says ecowas, a.
Understanding the root causes of military coups and governmental instability in west africa open pdf 2 mb. Liberia officially the republic of liberia, is a country on the west african coast. Current and future trends in africa military coups in africa the african neocolonialism that is selfinflicted the wind of change, as mr. But events in chad suggest unilateral action remains on the table. With permanent military rule widespread throughout africa, it is clearly important to understand the role of the military in this continent. Following the 1966 military coup in nigeria, ethiopia also experienced interventions of military in its history in the 1974 at large. Precolonial kingdoms and the coup civil war nexus in subsaharan africa jack paine december 15, 2014 abstract rulers of weakly institutionalized states constantly fear coup attempts.
Edrissa sanyang and sanna camara the gambia after elections. Using the latitude and longitudinal coordinates for each available protest. The risk of coups may lead rulers to exclude certain ethnic groups from powerdespite creating incentives for excluded groups to rebel against the government. Growth of military statesas late as 1961 the african image had not been tarnished to any great extent by the incidence of military coups. Of those 54, 44 have experienced a military coup detat. The challenges of leadership and governance in africa. The bitter 19041907 war between imperial germany and the herero tribe in todays namibia is an illustration of this pattern, with tragic consequences for the indigenous resistance, including concentration camps, forced labor and a scorched earth extermination policy that even some. Are military coups detat a neverending phenomenon african.
Current events in the developing continent of africa are frequently misrepresented in the media, which fails to convey the accurate context and interconnectivity of various african political, social, and economic episodes. Guerilla warfare was a common military response in many areas of africa during the early colonial era. However, the military became drunk with power and at the end they even became worse than those they had removed from power. The other answers offered all hit on many of the points, but i think you can summarize them in an approximate ranking of importance thusly. Research by florida and kentucky universities in the four decades between 1960 and 2000, the number of coup attempts remained remarkably consistent at around 40. What are the causes of military coup in africa answers. Example of such african countries is nigeria ghana, algeria etc. The euphoria of independence in africa in the 1960s was quickly followed by a long succession of military coups until the late 1990s. Conflict trends in africa marshall page 1 of 5 adverse regime changes in africa, 19552004 annex 2a. Military coups are largely driven by elite rivalries inside the military and the civilian government. Understanding the root causes of military coups and. In postcolonial africa, the military coup has in effect become the institu tionalized method for changing governments. The impact of military coups detat on west africa s socioeconomic and political development, by maj.
Colonial army formats in africa and postcolonial military. It lies between latitudes 4 and 9n, and longitudes 7 and 12w. Climate variability, food production shocks, and violent. Civilian control and military effectiveness in south. Africa s wars since the late nineteenth century can be differentiated in terms of their causal factors and dynamics, spatial scales and locations, temporal scope and duration, composition of perpetrators and combatants, military equipment and engagements deployed, impacts on military and. Armies have been analysed in terms of their social and ethnic composition, training, ideology, and socialising influences. It was the military that had dominated the politics of precolonial africa and influenced the continents history at different times. Poor governance become the major challenge and source of africa s predicament and socioeconomic crises. Although, on one level, military coups are indeed going out of style, they are not dissipating as rapidly, as consistently, or as straightforwardly as might be expected. Precolonial kingdoms and the coupcivil war nexus in sub. In contrast to a revolution, a coup detat does not involve a mass. In coups and army rule in africa, published in 1976, samuel decalo examined four lesserstudied frenchafrican states. This is a chronological list of coups and coup attempts, from ancient times to the present. Indeed, a field study tour conducted in 1960 1 the year.
Zimbabwes military takeover was the worlds strangest coup. Military coups in africathe african neocolonialism that. The beginning of the end of military coups in africa the. According to the world bank, in the past 15 years, west african nations account for more than 70 percent of the military coups in africa. Military spending and the risks of coups detats paul collier and anke hoeffler, centre for the study of african economies, department of economics, oxford university march, 2007 we would like to thank lisa chauvet for useful suggestions. From studies of togo, dahomey, the congo and uganda, he concludes that the most significant factor in military regime stability is consistency and equity in army promotions and benefits.