Does Democracy Have A Future In West Africa?

The usurpation of democratic governance through violence military coups in West African states of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Guinea-Conakry, Chad and elsewhere in Africa, Republic of Sudan is a serious and huge threat to democratisation process in recent times.

The armed forces reasonable service is to protect territorial integrity of one’s country from external aggression but overtime, reversal in Africa’s military. The armed forces in Africa have repeatedly proved to undertake a wicked enterprise to destabilise the little stability on the continent. This had been preceded by considerable instability and violence as the case in Khartoum, capital of Sudan; what hypocrisy.

Burkina Faso meaning the land of incorruptible men in Mossi, predominantly language was formerly Upper Volta and renamed in 1984 during the brief leadership of the revered charismatics Marxist Leninist ruler Captain Thomas Sankara later, killed in a bloody Palace coup led by his bosom comrade in arms Blaise Compaore in 1987 and ruled with iron fist, subsequently Compaore was forced from power by people power revolution and now exile in neighboring Cote, d’Ivoire.

Since 80’s Burkina Fasso has been on the political headlines of repeated military coups and briefly followed by multiparty elections. Most recently, where anti-democratic forces have ousted a democratic power of President Roch March Christian Kabore and installed the military junta led by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo as Head of State for a transitional government in Ouagadougou is sad, regrettable, worrisome, and highly condemned and I say no to military rulership, most serious threat to democracy and upheavals in Africa.

Does democracy have a future in West Africa, yes

Democracy can only exist in places where people, the electorates are free to choose those who ruled them and not through the barrel of the gun. The incessant military intervention in politics has sent Africa continent into the Dark Ages, these current developments have put lover of democracy into a state of uncertainties and to undeveloped the people.

One of the major motives of seizing power that the former government is unable to stop the massacres, the military campaign by Islamic jihadist in Northern Burkina Fasso; the Burkinabe military they do not have right to overthrow a legitimate government elected by the people, such illegal drastic action it is really questionable. What we have been witnessing is chaos, Coup d’état followed by counters coups and if not check the expansionist approach of the military by the United Nations, African Union and the regional body ECOWAS, including civil society groups it will derail the democratic governance in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Furthermore, in Sierra Leone for instance, during the brutal civil war, the government of then President Joseph Momoh was deposed in a military coup by Captain Valentine Strasser of the Sierra Leone Army SLA , in order to tackle the advancement and gains made by Sierra Leone rebel group Revolutionary United Front (RUF), led by Foday Sankoh, same reason, approach with Burkina Fasso military junta. Overtime, Captain Strasser military operation failed and he was eventually, overthrew in a Palace coup led by his Chief of Staff, then Brigadier General Julius Maada Bio, the current President of Sierra Leone. So, already a failed project in Burkina Fasso and bad precedent in Africa military adventures into politics. But in Democracy, it is also very important that it’s rules of democratic tenets be respected by all concerned and that no one should be able to use universal suffrage to gain power and then deprive others of access to power.

These problems impacted greatly on the fate of democracy in many African countries notable dictatorial rulers. Theodore Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, the world longest ruler , he has been on power since 1979 through the bloody Palace coup against the autocratic government of his Uncle Macias Nguema in Malabo, now grooming is son Théodorine Nguema Mangue to succeed him; laughable, Aged Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has been on the seat since 1980, Yowere Museveni of Uganda , the strongman of Kampala has ruled for 36

Years and still asking for more years, Eritrea longtime President Isaiah Afwerki since 1993 and Paul Kagame of Rwanda to rule till thy kingdom come. The story is never-ending.

Many of these countries has faced serious economic problems, including lack of financial resources, insecurity, employment, apart from Rwandan in the great Lakes region. So where does Africa stand today in world politics.

For lasting democracy those in saddle of power should put the welfare of the people first.

Nevertheless, with the sanctions by AU and ECOWAS it is hoped that the military government will immediately conduct credible elections to usher in democratic governance for the peace, stability and development of the region.

Above all, in order to maintain democratic order in the Africa sub region, African nations should wake up to stop, the wave of Coups in Africa and administer good governance, less corrupt, and more accountable to the people and democracy will thrive.

Jinbobaraye Karibo-Nelson, JP, SCIPM, FECRMI,

A Social Commentator, Opinion Columnist, Security Analyst, an Alumni of University of Port Harcourt, a Senior Member Chartered Institute of Public Management Nigeria, Fellow Emergency, Crisis and Risk Management Institute of Nigeria , Member International NGO Safety and Security Association (INSSA) and Member Nigerian Legion.

Nigeria writes from Ogu Town, Rivers State, Port Harcourt via [email protected] , www.karibonelson.com