By John Oduo

The truncation of democracy in certain African nations is a stark reminder of the fragility of governance in the region. Despite the promises of progress and empowerment that came with the post-colonial era, many countries have regressed into authoritarianism - through military coup de'tat - which has trampled on the very ideals they once aspired to uphold.

Despite initial hopes for democratic progress following the wave of decolonization, numerous countries on the continent have experienced setbacks that curtail democratic processes.

Key issues include political repression, restrictions on free speech, electoral manipulation, and constitutional amendments aimed at extending presidential terms. These actions erode the foundations of democracy, concentrating power in a few hands and undermining citizens' rights and voices.

Also, the manipulation of ethnic and regional divisions for political gain by these leaders further fractures societies, thereby perpetuating a cycle of instability across the continent. The side-lining of independent institutions weakens any semblance of checks and balances, leaving leaders unchecked and free to pursue personal interests.

In several instances - six whole African nations, to be precise - military officers have taken laws into their hands by upstaging coups to oust the leaders of their nations.

Some of these African nations are

1. Mali: 

On August 18, 2020, some officers of the Malian Armed Forces launched a mutiny which resulted in a coup d'etat - Mali's second coup in 10 years. After a gunfire exchange between soldiers in the Soundiata military base in Kati, the MAF elements moved to Bamako, Mali's capital city, where government officials, including President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta were arrested and detained.

At about midnight the same day, Keita resigned as president and dissolved his government. In his resignation speech, Keita said: "I want no blood to be spilled to keep me in power."

Shortly after his resignation, five colonels led by Colonel Assimi Goïta appeared on national television, referring to themselves as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People. With the successful coup, Mali was suspended from the African Union and the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS).

2. Chad

On April 20, 2021, Chadian President, Idriss Déby, was killed during a Northern Chad offensive. He was Chad's president for 30 years and was on his sixth tenure when he died in Tibesti. 

On the same day - after the offensive in which the Chadian military emerged victorious - his son, Mahamat Déby, became the country's president. This followed the dismissal of the appointment of Albert Pahimi Padacke as Chad's Prime Minister by some opposition leaders.

A four-star general, Mahamat, 39, has been chairing the Transition Military Council of Chad since April 2021.

3. Guinea 

In an ugly turn out of events, the president of Guinea, Alpha Conde, was captured and detained by Guinean Special Forces.

Officials of the force seized power from Conde in a successful coup d'etat and promised to change the nation's political setup.

Led by Lieutenant-Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, the Guinean forces, while appearing on national television, accused Conde's government of mismanagement, which prompted the coup.

Doumbouya said: "We are no longer going to entrust politics to one man; we are going to entrust politics to the people.

"Guinea is beautiful. We don't need to rape Guinea anymore; we just need to make love to her," he added. To date, The military officer is serving as Guinea's interim president.

4. Sudan

Sudanese Military, led by General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, on October 25, 2021, ousted the government of the country’s civilian Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. 

With five senior government officials detained, Hamdok refused to declare support for the Military and was subsequently placed on house arrest a day after.

For years, Al-Burhan has remained the de facto leader of Sudan. He has also led the Sudanese Army since the eruption of violence between the Military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has mitigated Sudan’s progression to civilian rule.

5. Burkina Faso

On January 23, 2022, gunfire right in front of the presidential residence of Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou ended in the ousting of Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, who was detained in a military camp. Shortly after, on January 31, the military junta restored the constitution of Burkina Faso and appointed Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba as interim president.

Damiba's rule lasted only eight months as he was deposed in the second coup d'état in September 2022 by soldiers led by young Army captain Ibrahim Traore.

Traore, 34, was named interim president until elections are conducted in Burkina Faso in July 2024. The second coup was carried out successfully alongside other disgruntled junior officers.

6. Niger

Being the most recent, the coup in the Niger Republic has brought some realisation on the impending doom looming in the continent if not addressed.

On Thursday, July 27, 2023, the military in the Niger Republic went on national television to announce the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum.

The officers, led by Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane and nine uniformed officers who described themselves as members of the National Council for the Safeguard of Homeland, declared a state of emergency in Niger.

In a successful operation, the officers cited the continued deterioration of the security situation in Niger and the ousted government's poor economic and social governance for their actions.

Possible way forward for the African continent

While international outcry and condemnation over the coups are not uncommon, their impact often remains limited. Economic and geopolitical interests can sometimes overshadow the push for democratic norms, allowing autocratic regimes to continue unabated.

Addressing the truncation of democracy in African nations necessitates a genuine commitment to upholding democratic values, both from within and outside. 

It requires fostering a culture of political pluralism, strengthening institutions, and ensuring that citizens' voices are heard and respected. Only then can these nations break free from authoritarianism and work towards a future of true democratic governance.