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PAV EDITORIAL Vol. 28 February 2010
The Military and Democracy in Africa: Ponderables and Imponderables of A strange Marriage
The Military and Democracy in Africa: Ponderables and Imponderables of A strange Marriage
Last year in Guinea it was the death of President Lansana Conte and the frailty of political institutions that led to the re-emergence of military rule in that country. Captain Moussa Camara who emerged as the new strong man with promises of a swift return to constitutional rule turned out to be an embarrassment of enormous proportions. He barely escaped assassination when his own security detail pummeled him with bullets and is recuperating in Burkina Faso. In his absence his military successor has enlisted the support of the civil society and political parties to put the transition programme back on track.
This editorial is however prompted by the recent coup in Niger who overthrew the power drunk government of President Mamadou Tandja. The euphoria in the capital Niamey and all over Niger is indicates that the ouster of Tandja was considered as good riddance of bad rubbish. In 1999, the military in Niger ousted the government of Ibrahim Barre Mainasara.In keeping with its promise of a speedy return to civilian rule; fresh elections took place under a new constitution which limited the presidential mandate to a five year term renewable once. Mamadou Tandja emerged as President in that election and later won a second and last term mired in allegations of fraud.
A few years to the expiration of his second and last term, President Tandja became blindly obsessed with the idea of terminating term limits imposed by the constitution so as to continue in power. The idea was considered most unpalatable by his compatriots but this only fired the blind lust of Tandja.Every one or institution which stood on his way was shoved aside with vicious impunity. The civil society in Niger put up a fight which should serve as inspiration to the rest of the continent, opposition parties vehemently opposed the move and even within his own party there were signs of discontent to Tandja’s designs.
At the end of an official visit to Niger last year, many believed that French President Nicholas Sarkozy had talked Tandja out of his sinister designs but this was not to be the case. Mr Tandja eventually got his way and just what he thought it was all smooth sailing for many more years for himself in power while his country men languish under the yolk of poverty, nemesis caught up with him. The military rounded him up alongside his cabinet in the first military coup of 2010 in Africa.
As usual came the flurry of condemnation from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and the bla bla on unconstitutional take overs from the African Union. Tandja had little or no sympathy from his ouster as there was general jubilation from his compatriots. The reaction of the International Community shows little but covert appreciation of the coup. U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Tandja may have invited his own fate by "trying to extend his mandate in office." A French Diplomat who opted for anonymity said "These soldiers who seized power have said themselves that they'd like to hold elections as quickly as possible. I think we need to take them at their word and encourage them in this direction,"
Besides the ruse of flawed elections, many African leaders have abolished term limits imposed by the constitution to continue serving in power. In most cases the military which is considered to be at the service of the nation has been a willing tool in the perpetration of these selfish designs. In February 2008, it is the military that was used by President Paul Biya to brutally suppress riots which engulfed the country in part because of his plans to change the abort term limits imposed by the constitution.
Without been experts on the military issues, it is not very healthy when it is allowed to dabble into issues of politics. The military is however made of citizens, patriotic ones at that as was the case in Niger and it pains them too to see the abuse of power and blatant mismanagement that takes place in African countries. Sometimes it’s hard for them to remain indifferent even in the face of hefty pay packages that more often than not are used as a bait to contain them. It is the military that triggered the elections that saw the emergence of Mamadou Tandja through elections. It the face of the mess that he turned out to be it is hard not to see in the act of his ouster an act of patriotism, putting the interest of the polity first before that of any power drunk self serving leader. Is this a trend that should be encouraged? Not so sure about that. What if the military leader turns out to be like the late Sani Abacha of Nigeria or a Moussa Camera of Guinea to cite a recent example?
There have been examples of leaders like the current Malian President Amani Toure who as military leader organized elections and helped offered his country a new constitution which is still doing great today. Such examples are however the exception and in the second decade of the 21st century, coups and military rule should not be the talk of the day at all. We have leaders like Former President Rawlings of Ghana who set the stage for the flourishing democratic experience Ghana is enjoying today. Due to their unpredictable character, the military just should not be trusted with the reigns of power.
It is not enough for the African Union to condemn military coups; it must go a step further to ostracize those who use flawed elections to stay in power. The African Union and the International Community must condemn with more vigor leaders who use force and questionable majorities to change constitutional term limits. It is time to enforce the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance adopted by the AU in January 2007. Article 23 of the charter defines unconstitutional changes of government as 'illegal means of accessing or maintaining power,' including 'any amendment or revision of the constitution or legal instruments, which is an infringement on the principles of democratic change of government.
What if the Niger example gives militaries around the continent new ideas? Serving the country is way different from serving the whims and caprices of incompetent leaders. The continent has way too many challenges facing it right now and accountable democratic, patriotic, and visionary leaderships which spare the military the kind of inevitable choice faced in Niger could be a stitch in time.
Happy Reading!!!!!!!!
