Yet another coup. This time in #Guinea. Once again it has a reignited the debate about coups in Africa. Indications are there is 📈 trend in the occurrence of coups. In 2019, there was one successful coup. In 2020, there were two. In 2021, three coups. 1/
This 📈 trend in the occurrence of coups corresponds with the deepening trend in the democratic governance deficit that has become characteristic of the politics of countries on the continent. 2/
This deficit involves, among others, narrowing down of the civic space, extension of term limits, flawed elections, undue restrictions on opposition groups, activists and independent media & rising frustration among the public, particularly the youth. 3/
Also notable is the fact that the executive enjoys near unlimited powers. Coupled with the authoritarian tendency & corruption this breads, it leads to a yearning for change, in face of economic hardship of the public. 4/
The absence of or failure of both formal and informal ways of enforcing constitutional checks & balances or the rendering of such mechanisms meaningless by the executive forces political & social forces to resort to such measures as protests & even riots. 5/
That the military steps in (purportedly for correcting the wrong in politics) is a further manifestation of a governance deficit. What makes army more qualified to be an arbiter of politics than other forces in society? Nothing. That it arrogated such role betrays SSR crisis. 6/
Hence, the idea of a good coup is an oxymoron. AU norms are right in rejecting coups in general as unconstitutional & hence not deserving of political & legal recognition. 7/
But the response should go further than suspension, transition & election. It should, among others, address the problems of the democratic gov’ce deficit, imperial executive power & weak checks & balances & SSR. End/
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