Coup d’etat is the “seizure by action of a small group of discontented elites, usually of military origin, of physical and political control of the State machinery” (Sharp, 2005: 544). The term has become popular in the wake of the ousters of President Manuel Zelaya and Fernando Lugo, and of President Dilma Rousseff in Brazil. In the context of Africa, where coups have punctuated the continent’s political landscape with diverse frequencies for years, there are important questions to consider about their unforeseen consequences.
Coups d’etat can produce iron-fisted juntas and lasting military dictatorships. But they can also lead to civilian rule, especially when accompanied by reforms and public pressure. Indeed, citizens often appreciate a coup when it sweeps away a corrupt and abusive leader or regime. They quickly turn sour, however, on prolonged ‘transitions’ or power-sharing agreements that keep the military as a quasi-permanent force in politics, and demand democracy.
Achieving sustainable democracy requires the building of strong democratic institutions that can resist the temptations of coups and other ill-advised strategies to consolidate power. This includes ensuring that government functions are divided between executive and legislative branches, with independent judiciaries and free press. It also means implementing checks and balances that protect citizens’ rights to hold leaders accountable. And it is crucial to prevent corruption in all its forms, which is a major factor behind many coup attempts and failures. In order to do this, African leaders need to learn the lessons of history: a coup that undermines fundamental constitutional principles of separations of powers can result in instability and negative long-term consequences for a country.
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