What Can We Learn from the Past? – Africa.com
Military coups are on the rise in Africa, with recent ones in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Sudan and Guinea. These regimes suppress dissent and the media, often justifying their actions as necessary for public safety. While some believe outside influences, notably Russia, have driven the shift, others attribute it to long-standing problems such as corruption and poverty. Historically, military regimes in Africa have integrated governance with military values, emphasizing order and discipline. However, they rarely achieved their utopian goals, and their regimes often led to authoritarianism. The current wave of coups marks a return to militarism and is reminiscent of Cold War-era politics. Despite initial promises to restore civilian rule, many military regimes have favored expanding their powers, suggesting they may be here to stay. If we are to understand current trends in military coups, it can be insightful to look at the continent’s past.
source: dialogue
