November 23, 2023 - Dissecting the Rise of Coups in 21st Century Africa 

The rise of coups in 21st Century Africa is a real and evident threat to peace and security in the region. According to VOA, the African continent accounts for 45% of global coup attempts since 1950. In 2023, two successful coups in Gabon and Niger occurred with Presidents Ali Bongo (Gabon) and Mohamed Bazoum (Niger) arrested and ousted by military juntas. 

It is evident that governance in Africa has shown more signs of fragility compared to other continents. It is a necessity for increased protective frameworks that uphold the authority of democratically elected governments. A collaboration with UN, AU, and ECOWAS forces could be a helpful measure to put pressure on military juntas against violating the rule of law and infringing the principles of democracy in African nations. 

Fatma Ahmed and Jide Martyns Okeke remark on some of the best possible solutions for abating the proliferation of African coup d'états. The authors suggest "when coups occur a robust and timely response is required to navigate through the complex challenges. The recently launched African Facility to Support Inclusive Transition (AFSIT) by UNDP and the AUC is a timely tool for intervention. It presents an entry point to contribute to complex political transitions including those countries that have recently experienced coups through analysis, assessment, and niche interventions that complement existing programmatic responses." As the authors suggest, a timely response to coups in progress coupled with increased intervention from international bodies such as AFSIT can assuredly be a positive step in promoting stability in African nations.