What's behind recent coups in Africa? | Inside Story

Two more coups in Africa during the past year.
That brings to nine, the number of governments ousted on the continent since 2020.
Are there common factors or are these takeovers isolated?
And what could we see in the coming year?
Presenter: Laura Kyle
Guests:
Alexis Akwagyiram managing editor at news website, Semafor Africa.
Kabir Adamu, Managing Director at Beacon Consulting, a security risk management and intelligence provider in Nigeria and Sahel region.
Moussa Kondo, Executive Director of the Sahel Institute, former Special Advisor to current interim President of Mali, Assimi Goita.
#AfricanCoupWave #CoupTally2023 #AfricaGovernance #PoliticalInstability #PowerShifts #PoliticalUnrest #AfricaInTransition #CrisisinAfrica #AfricanPolitics #DemocracyWatch

[@TheOrionOracle]

"In a world that demands you to obey the wrong rules: Being rebellious is right''.✨🤲✨

[@berememberedfortheloveyoug244]

It is better the obey God rather than man.

[@DYT2]

"you miss 100 of the shots you don't take"

[@markminer8042]

Niger is currently the fastest growing economy in Africa and the fourth fastest in the world. That’s in 3 months. Burkina 6th in Africa and 9th globally. A revolution!

[@zalmankelber3078]

You're spreading misinformation. Niger was ranked as the fastest growing economy in the world in 2022, before the coup. The figures for 2023 aren't even available yet

[@geraldmantel4955]

Bottom Line: These countries are still trying to "get past" their long colonial eras.

[@alicianah8352]

The colonial era suggests past tense. However the reality is present tense.

[@geraldmantel4955]

@@alicianah8352 It's not "past tense," the colonialism merely shifted from "physical occupation" to "economic dominance," not much of a difference there.

[@alicianah8352]

Spot on, good to know others well informed. ​@@geraldmantel4955

[@Lamin_G]

@@geraldmantel4955 In some cases, both situations-physical occupation and colonialism by proxy-are taking place.

[@geraldmantel4955]

@@Lamin_G Right, I didn't necessarily mean one or the other though I obviously implied that. Thanks for update.

[@proximacentaur1654]

Really appreciate the nuance these Inside Story discussions bring.

[@randomspurious1066]

Here's a suggestion for the producers at AJ: create a longer format so your anchor doesn't have to keep interrupting the guests persistently because of the time constraints. I've noted with mild annoyance how frequently this occurs. You're doing a disservice to your guests and the story overall.

[@alicianah8352]

I recommend Zack Mwekassa channel for independent news on Africa affairs.

[@Mr.paillant]

Agreed

[@Mr.paillant]

@@alicianah8352if you speak French

[@alicianah8352]

@@Mr.paillant Ah OK yes you correct. Try Zack Mwekassa English.

[@randomspurious1066]

I'm a subscriber of Africa Stream which is broad spectrum yet adequate, but thank-you for the suggestion. I will check it out.@@alicianah8352

[@isuwazabura7902]

It's better late than never, Africa has risen and with time we will get there

[@hemmisis]

Nope, corruption gets you nowhere. Just look at Zimbabwe and S-Africa.

[@taharka3897]

​@@hemmisis, you are an uneducated idiot get off the internet and go watch cartoons

[@Lamin_G]

@@hemmisis Name one place where corruption is lacking.

[@hemmisis]

​@@Lamin_GThe most prosperous countries in the world are not corrupt, otherwise there would be no prosperity there. Corruption destroys prosperity. That's why there is this huge flow of refugees from Africa to Europe, people are fleeing corruption. Economic growth is very high in many African countries, but the profits do not return to the public. Corruption is like cancer.

[@Lamin_G]

​@@hemmisis *Institutionalized* racism exists in the "most prosperous" countries in the world because they are "not corrupt" - correct? What about the 2008 economic meltdown in the U.S.? I suppose you believe that was a shining example of "ethical" integrity?! What about the *widening gap* between the haves and the have-nots in those "prosperous" countries? Were the corruption scandals investigated in the European Union in recent times merely the "imagination" of the Union? Does the Iran-Contra ring a bell? Enron​ - anybody? How about Boris Johnson's "party-gate"? Watergate! - that must have been a "high point" of U.S. politics, right? 🙂 There's more: *COVID-19* ravaged Italy and parts of Europe: that couldn't possibly be the product of corruption, could it? All the two *World Wars* started in Europe - corruption? Maybe? Britain *bribing* African countries like Rwanda, Tunisia, and Libya to stop migrants in contravention of the International Refugee Law isn't "corrupt" - is it? Show me data that suggests the "flow of refugees from Africa to Europe is huge"! Let the data show that more African refugees flow to Europe than within Africa. The migration of Africans to Europe has more to do with years of colonialism [by Europeans] on the continent and how that has manifested in many different ways. Some of it comes from climatic shocks caused by global warming, thanks chiefly to the "prosperous" countries of the North. But I am guessing "colonialism" doesn't count as "corruption" to you?

[@markminer8042]

Aljazeera need to understand that western style democracies does not always work especially in Africa. Western style democracy causes division which is easily manipulated and polarized

[@Lamin_G]

"Western-style democracy," like all "democracies," is only democratic _on paper_ rather than in reality.

[@Kgoki890]

No such, even west had to fight to understand they need a better resolution to avoid wars/coups. West Fought and removed mornachies , unfortunately we were enslaved and colonized thus our path is only developing now

[@kylesmith8128]

Over-grazing has been destroying northern Africa's ecosystem for millenia. You need better land management policies. This is not about broad "climate change" as much as local conditions. I suppose you need land management policies in the first place before you can have "better ones."

[@TheKing75691]

The common factor is they all Muslim governments too

[@Lamin_G]

How about the government in Gabon?

[@TheKing75691]

@@Lamin_G All of the African governments are corrupt

[@fwelloh]

Give the coupists time! Things dont happen overnight after coup.

[@alexglanz7406]

Africa, as a continent, has been beaten and subjugated by Western colonials for centuries. With time and self determination, the world may see these nations rise. Leave Russophobia in your analyst's office. It has no place here.

[@malcolmodoy2651]

Simple Answer, Ask France?

[@KwamyAppiah]

The difference between olden coup and today’s coup is that: the people get killed and feared for their lives in the olden days but today they looked happy and no life get lost. You guys should stop looking at the coup as an influence of outsider countries. At least respect the civilians decision. They have been crying for change for decades and now their worries have been answered. Focus on the people, not the country giving mandate to trade with.

[@boxcutter0]

A good discussion. An interesting awaking of some African countries recognizing their own role in dysfunction & the need for effective reforms. Blaming everything on previous colonial powers feels good, but isn’t a useful strategy. Autocracy & corruption spreads like a cancer, especially when nefarious groups like Russia/Wagner are facilitating corruptions & dictators.

[@alicianah8352]

Always check funding of news sources. Al Jazeera funded by government of Qatar. Qatar have financial links to the u.s. It not in Al Jazeeras interest to go against their sponsors.

[@alicianah8352]

If want unbiased independent media I recommend Zack Mwekassa channel.

[@Lamin_G]

What does "blaming everything on previous colonial powers" entail that is supposedly inaccurate, and why?

[@freedomaxe7]

Democracy is for maintaining a free country, not for building a country. I hope African learn the lesson quick and get a permanent divorce from western Democracy.

[@DYT2]

There is a left-wing bias to the audio.

[@hemmisis]

Russia.

[@ayushacharya972]

I’ll preemptively say: You can blame France 🇫🇷 all you want, but what have the countries of Africa done about it? Shouldn’t there be democratic leaders willing to stand upto France 🇫🇷 if their public demands so? How about developing their own economy and cleaning up their governments of corruption or mismanagement? Was all of it inhibited by France 🇫🇷? Or some soul-searching is required at home too?

[@XTheJokeDealer]

It was all France.

[@phoque121]

By other hand, Haiti became independent from France in 1791, and everything there has been wonderful since then!

[@boxcutter0]

It’s emotionally satisfying to blame others, and it’s easy when that group is more prosperous, but without self reflection & internal reforms Africa won’t thrive.

[@XTheJokeDealer]

@@boxcutter0 😂😂

[@XTheJokeDealer]

@@phoque121 😂😂

[@ShadiaSylvania]

Climate disasters don't care who you voted for ( or overthrew)

[@blinkybill4062]

how about it is NOT climate change but over population!!!! Look at the rise in the number of people in Africa in the last 50 years alone. over 7 times the number living there. and they are not getting 7 times the rainfall or 7 times the land mass increase. So do not blame climate change for lack of water and land degradation. Why does inside story NOT look at this as a major cause for the crisis in Africa and other countries?

[@rodnerdd1247]

sounds like you’re a eugenicist fr

[@berememberedfortheloveyoug244]

Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand were some of the Words of Christ Jesus. What’s taking place throughout the earth are many of the things Jesus said will happen before His second coming. Spiritual warfare is very much rampant.