Browsing: Burkina Faso

The mid-20th century brought with it the height of independence-related agitations and clamouring in many African countries. Rising nationalists who had gotten their education and the attendant exposure that came with it ultimately believed that African states were ready to govern themselves in the newly introduced democratic system. From that period till now, several African states have gone through turbulent moments of shapeshifting — a democratic state today, a military-junta-ruled state tomorrow. More often than not, military interventions in the democratic running of African states are touted as the Messianic way out of the corruption practices of the democratically elected leaders in these countries. As altruistic and patriotic as these military interventions seem at the outset, historical precedents in Africa show that the Messiahs often end up as or worse than the oppressors they initially wanted to save the people from. Africa does not need coups and military leaders.

The military rulers of Burkina Faso and Mali on Monday, warned the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), that any military intervention in Niger Republic to restore deposed President Mohamed Bazoum would be considered a “declaration of war” against their two countries.