THE COUPS IN WEST AFRICAN SUBREGION AND THE AFTERMATHS SINCE 2020

Abstract

This research project is on the coups in West African subregion and the aftermaths since 2020. Africa with its sixteen countries is the cradle of military coups and governmental instability totalling fifty since independence. The research identifies and explain the causes of the coups and identify political, military and military funding, ethnic antagonism, selfish ambitions as the major causes. While agreeing with all these factors as leading factors of governmental instability and military coups in West Africa, this study widens the scope to a more prominent factor that contributed to this situation. This research posits that the sudden departure of colonial military powers is also a causal factor of governmental instability and coups in West Africa. The departure created a gape in the security and in the professionalization of the embryonic West African militaries with regards to the civil-military relations. Since 2020, there have been seven military coups in West and Central Africa. Most of the countries are members of ECOWAS, the regional organization set up to promote political stability and economic cooperation. Political uncertainties persist after the military's takeover of power and the path towards democratic rule became unsure. The coups underscore the persistent political challenges facing the country in question and the domination by formal colonial power, namely France. Since 2020, there have been seven military coups in West and Central Africa. Four of the countries experiencing coups are members of ECOWAS, a regional organization set up to promote political stability and cooperation. Despite the presence of foreign forces, particularly from the US and France, and military bases in Niger, insurgent attacks have continued unabated.