Closing The Gap: Averting Coup D'état In 21st Century Africa

Abstract

Among post-independence African States, coup d’état was a defining feature of many. Remarkably, post-Cold War era later witnessed a meaningful reduction in coups. Nonetheless, and unsurprisingly, coups resurfaced in 21st century with its occurrence in Central African Republic (CAR) in 2003. From the pragmatic perspective, this paper adopts a qualitative methodological approach, with narrative methodical disposition. Findings of this paper reveals that causes of coups have been ascribed to range from a weak government to lack of democratic principles. Also, the paper reveals the gaps in defining a coup, coupled with the misalignment of coup to public uprising. It is argued in this paper that as eminent as the reasons for coup are being put forward in many quarters, there is no reason or sum reason duly sufficient for coup to be permissible. This paper recommends that regional authorities like the ECOWAS, ECCAS, EAC, SADC, importantly African Union (AU), must speak in one strong voice to work against coup plotters, with the instrumentality of universal structured peace process and criminalizing the act; an approach beyond the already established instruments of bans and sanctions.