Coup surge in Francophone Africa

Coup surge in Francophone Africa is becoming frequent in the past three years, where democracy has collapsed in four West African countries.

Coup leaders in Niger Republic

READ ALSO: Gabonese celebrate overthrow of Ali Bongo

The trend of military coup in Francophone Africa is becoming frequent. Generally, seven African countries – Gabon, Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Guinea, Chad, and Mali – have been taken over by the military who dismantled democratic structures, including dictatorial one party state, in the case of certain countries.

Six Francophone countries in Africa – four in West Africa – Niger Republic, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Mali – and two in Central Africa Chad and Gabon – while another one – Sudan – colonised by Egypt and Britain, have fallen to military dictatorship.

Curiously, citizens of these countries turn out en mass to celebrate the emergent military regimes and accord legitimacy to Army.

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The countries taken over by the military and the dates of occurrence are listed below:

2023 🇬🇦Gabon — 🇫🇷
2023 🇳🇪Niger — 🇫🇷
2022 🇧🇫Burkina Faso — 🇫🇷
2021 🇸🇩Sudan — 🇪🇬🇬🇧
2021 🇬🇳Guinea — 🇫🇷
2021 🇹🇩Chad — 🇫🇷
2020 🇲🇱Mali — 🇫🇷

Meanwhile, leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are still contending with the coup in Niger Republic which ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. ECOWAS had ordered the deployment of “Standby Force”in Niger Republic to restore democratic order and reinstate ousted President Bazoum.

Another military coup has ousted President Ali Bongo who was going for third term in office in Gabon after 14 years in power.

The military may be leading the citizens into another phase of decolonization,  liberating their countries from France’s imperialism in the 21st century.  The people have been raising strong voices against the interference or influence of France in the affairs of their countries.

This, in addition to unpopular elections, bad governance, leadership failures, and others, have made the emergent military regimes acceptable in Francophone African countries.

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