It has happened again in Gabon today. So banning coups on paper is insignificant. Coups or revolutions will always be staged if representative democratic governance is compromised:-
- Through the manipulating or bastardising the electoral process in order to falsely cling on to power.
- If an elected government is unspeakably corrupt as is happening in many african countries today.
- If leaders blatantly breach the tenets of good governance to wit, transparency, accountability, probity, inclusiveness, and equity.
- When leaders diffidently practice a Family and Friends government. Cronyism
- If governments politicise the security services through unmerited promotions of political apparatchiks disguised as professional servicemen and women
- When the dispensation of justice is compromised on the alter of partisan politics
- When political parties establish para-military or vigilanté groups in order to intimidate political opponents and/or entrench themselves in power.
- When through kleptocracy (governance by stealing and openly displaying public wealth by politicians), citizens become impoverished.
- When moral society fails to speak truth to power due to fear, selfishness or complicity in the looting of publuc wealth.
- When the Press become a pretentious, compromised and a praise-singing arm of the executive instead of holding the latter to account.
- When succession in a democracy becomes dynastic.
- When citizens are cowed into becoming spectators.,
Coups are bound to happen.
Isnt it interesting that these signs are ignored by Regional groupings when they are occuring in many countries? They find their voices only when the coups happen. No proactive diplomatic engagements.
African leaders. Be warned
