Will Stevens, the United States Consul General in Nigeria, has expressed worry over the escalating trend of military coups in Africa. This increasing tendency of armed forces taking control is due to some leaders’ reluctance to step down after their terms end, he stated.
The Consul General shared these views during the unveiling of the ‘Recycling Waste to Wealth Challenge’, an initiative for secondary school students, held at the Abeokuta Window on America. This venue is situated within the Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Multiple sources informed us that this initiative is a competition supported by the US Government, intended for students attending vocational and technical colleges throughout Ogun State.
Mr. Stevens voiced his apprehensions, highlighting that Africa is grappling with serious issues like climate change and shortage of food. He emphasised that democratic stability could offer a solution to these growing problems.
In his statement, Mr. Stevens insisted that Africa’s leaders must genuinely adopt democratic principles, which include ensuring a peaceful transfer of power.
He acknowledged Nigeria’s achievement of maintaining 25 years of tranquil democratic transitions, advising other African countries to take inspiration from this example.
The Consul General praised former Nigerian leader, Olusegun Obasanjo, for setting a good example by respecting the democratic process. “Obasanjo served two terms and then willingly left power, creating a precedent in Nigeria. You serve and then make way for your successor,” he explained.
Stevens recalled that Nigeria has celebrated a quarter-century of unbroken presidential succession and that the current President Buhari has followed this commendable tradition.
However, he expressed concern regarding leaders from neighbouring countries who have clung to power for extensive periods – sometimes 20, 30, or even 40 years. This clinging to power results in democratic instability and often culminates in military coups, he noted.
In recent times, certain regions in Africa, specifically Niger and Mali, have witnessed direct impacts of military interventions in political spheres. Niger and Mali, each with their own unique set of challenges, have become focal points in discussions concerning governmental stability in Africa due to a series of military coups that have rattled their respective political landscapes.
In Niger, the political landscape has been notably unstable. In March 2021, merely days before the elected president Mohamed Bazoum was to take office, a military coup was attempted but failed. This event signalled a stark reminder of the nation’s fragile democratic structures, as the coup took place not long after the first peaceful transition between two democratically elected leaders in the history of Niger. This volatile political climate in Niger poses significant challenges for the West African region, which already contends with various multifaceted issues, such as violent extremism, poverty, and more recently, implications of climate change.
Concurrently, Mali has also been embroiled in political upheavals induced by military interventions. Two coups have transpired in less than a year, displacing an already internationally criticized government and subsequently a transitional government, aimed to return the nation to civilian rule. These events have triggered international condemnation and sanctions from organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union. The continuous instability in Mali, similarly to Niger, exacerbates regional insecurities and augments concerns regarding democratic governance in the surrounding nations.
These instances in Niger and Mali underline a broader theme of military interventions in Africa, aligning with Mr. Stevens’ observations. The necessity for established and respected democratic processes is imperative, not only for the stability of individual nations but also for the collective stability of the African continent. The prevailing instability in regions like West Africa indirectly fuels further socio-economic issues, creating a cyclic problem that undermines development efforts and perpetuates insecurity and poverty.
As such, the exemplar set by Nigerian leaders, like Obasanjo, in adhering to democratic norms and willingly stepping down after their terms, is not merely a national matter. It stands as a beacon, illuminating a path toward sustainable governance, which can potentially mitigate the cycle of political instability witnessed in counterparts like Niger and Mali. It is a testament to the fundamental principle that robust, democratic systems form the backbone of stable, prosperous nations.
In light of these occurrences, international leaders and diplomatic envoys, such as Stevens, underscore the importance of democratic resilience to safeguard against the infiltration of non-democratic norms and practices, such as militarily enforced leadership. It is thus pivotal for global efforts to coalesce in supporting and preserving democratic structures within nations, particularly in regions that are susceptible to political upheavals and where democratic roots are still attempting to firmly embed themselves into the political fabric of the nations.
Image Credit: AP Photo
