Military coups in africathe african neocolonialism. The successful military coups which have taken place in seven african states over the course of the past. Alex thomas, an introduction to african politics, chapter 6, case study. Armies have been analysed in terms of their social and ethnic composi. Major general johnson aguiyiironsi was made the head of the federal military government of nigeria, but was soon overthrown and murdered in a coup in july of the same year. Military rule implies that people are governed by force. The continent is surrounded by the mediterranean sea to the north. Similarly, nigerias history was dominated by military rule throughout the mid of 1960s and the entire 1970s. Military rule in nigeria first started on january 15, 1966, when a group or army officers overthrew the npcnndp government and killed many of the countrys political rulers.
The most vulnerable places of military rule have been latin america, the middle east and the newly independent countries of africa and. The term military rule as used here is synonymous with military regime and refers to a subtype of authoritarian regime. Cotedivoire pages 114120 to what extent did clientelism legitimate personal rule in postcolonial africa. With fourteen subsaharan states currently under military rule and several others with a record of. The military history of africa is one of the oldest military histories in the world.
There is a scholarly position that holds there is no country in the world where the military does not intervene in politics. Pdf the impact of military rule on democracy in nigeria. Military intrusion in african politics, usually in a coup, is one of the hurdles facing. For most of human history, attaching military to rule would have been. Second, military rule in africa has had a negative impact on military. The nature and results of military coups by direct or indirect military intervention are different. These differences have also been the source of much conflict since a millennia. Diverse attempts to explain military intervention in politics. Second, military rule in africa has had a negative. Theories of military in african politics springerlink. Thus senegal, zaire, cameroon or somalia become exemplars of african politics and african political systems in general. The contributors to the military in african politics have divided the regimes into three categories or case studies.
Democracy and issues of governance in african politics the nigeria perspective. This resulted in series of episodes of mass protest, industrial strife, and civil disturbance. Handbook on united nations multidimensional peacekeeping. Nugent, african independence and a profile of africa at independence, in his africa since 1940, 770. The military history of nigeria since the colonial rule began precisely on the 1 st october 1966. The military factor in zimbabwes political and electoral affairs report gives recommendations on how the security sector, especially the military, can be subjected to civilian control and oversight to prevent it from subverting the will of the voters in the next elections. Dahomey, ghana, sierra leone, and mali, draws upon the experience of military rule in four african states. If politics is understood as authoritative allocation of values, then all participants in the political process intervene in politics at one point or another. Decalo in recent years there has been growing interest in the underlying causes of the steadily increasing number of coups in africa, and in the nature of the ensuing military regimes. Indeed, a field study tour conducted in 1960 1 the year of independence as it has been called to investigate the place of the armed forces in societies in africa did not provide the evidence on which to forecast the eventual spate of coups. Overview of politics in the postcolonial era african politics in the postcolonial era has been marred by authoritarianism, corruption, military intervention, and leadership failures amidst a broader socioeconomic crisis characterized by poverty.
Upon obtaining independence from colonial rule in the late. Africa s legacy of military involvement in politics will ensure that the military continues to play a role in the ongoing processes of political transition for some time to come. In parts of africa, the military, as an institution of the state that. I05i27 military coups and military regimes in africa by samuel decalo in the past several years there has been a proliferation of studies on coup detats in africa and the political role of african military structures. Between 1966 and 1999, the army held power in nigeria without interruption apart from a shortlived return to democracy from 19791983. Africa is the worlds secondlargest and secondmost populous continent, after asia. The need to consolidate power has opened up for the struggle for power at all levels within society even outside elections. Outright condemnation of military rule by all individualscitizens, national bodies and international organization will a long way in crabbing military takeover of government from civilian rule. Politics from the viewpoint of the typical african politician is seen as a profession where one could enrich himself at the expense and disadvantage of the poor people and so when that happens, and the military is compelled to interfere in the body politics of a state, the people tend to give support to them. Many reasons have been adduced to explain the frequency of military intervention in the politics of african states with nigeria as a case study. Africa since the collapse of colonial rule is visibly epitomized by the growing number of interventions by the military. Government aims and objectives this syllabus aims at assessing the candidates ability to a define the concepts of government and show their understanding of its principles, institutions and processes.
If a choice has to be made between a soldier or a civilian as the head of government, the man with arms has the upper hand. Growth of military statesas late as 1961 the african image had not been tarnished to any great extent by the incidence of military coups. The first military coup in nigeria took place on january 15, 1966. The country was at its infantile stage and was still trying to adapt to. The 19759 effort of the murtalaobasanjo government to restore civilian rule, and the post1983 reinvolvement of the armed forces under buhari and babangida. Moreover, as the business of government becomes more complex with growing internal development and involvement of the nation in world politics, the necessity. And from the 1960s up to the present, african factional. Major challenges facing africa in the 21st century.
American countries with little prior history of military rule also increased academic interest in the phenomenon. Rather than solve african contemporary political and socio economic problems, military. Military coups and military regimes in africa scientia. Emerging trends related to military intervention on african continent. The role of the military in politics has attracted the attention of political scientists all over the world.
Since then, military rule has been a recurring phenomenon in nigeria. The impact of military coup detat on political development in nigeria olorungbemi simeon toyin ph. He further explained the causes of military interventions in politics is that military always come for the short period but history tells us military never returned back the government to the civilian in proper way. Africa is a continent of many regions with diverse populations speaking hundreds of different languages and practicing an array of cultures and religions. Even at that, the risk of military intervention has not completely disappeared from the political firmament. Causes of military intervention and prevention in nigeria. The journal of modern african studies, i, i i973, pp. D student of political science at the department of political science university of ibadan ibadan, nigeria abstract the military is not by inclination trained to rule, but to defend. The presence of opposition groups which do not share the same ideology with those in the military has forced at times the. The impact of military rule on democracy in nigeria. These studies focus on the characteristics of the officers who came to poweryoung or old, revolutionary or conservative, on each countrys particular problems, and on the strategies used by the military leaders to stay in power. The coup was led by major chukwuma nzeogwu and other majors in the army. This module examines theoretically and empirically the government and politics of africa, focusing in particular on subsaharan africa, insofar as it is possible to explore a vast continent of 53 states, 48 of which lie partly or entirely below the sahara.
Political instability in africa where the problem lies and. This means that political freedom and participation are prevented because of political coercion by military rule. Pdf the probability of military rule in africa, 19702007. The impact of military rule on democracy in nigeria etim o. It is instructive to note that the era of military rule can only end with good governance. The thrust of this article, however, is an indepth analysis of the roles of the military in democratic political transition in nigeria. Military rule in africa sage journals sage publications. This point could be developed in a study of military performance in politics that draws upon subsaharan africa. The mass media and the struggle for democracy in africa.
Pdf the african military in a democratic age researchgate. Much of the early literature focused on the reasons for military intervention in politics, but some analysts also attempted to generalize about the military s typical strengths and weaknesses in governance, as well as the effect. Armies have been analysed in terms of their social and ethnic composition, training, ideology, and socialising influences. Reasons for military intervention in politics world news. Military intervention in the nigerian politics and its impact on the development of managerial elite.
But to omit the role of the military from this subject in some african states would constitute a significant oversight. October 29 alex thomas, an introduction to african politics, chapter 7, coercion. By the end of 1966, military intervention in politics in africa had become endemic with some countries suffering from coups and counter coups. Explanations connected with foreign interests and foreign influence. Ukpere department of industrial psychology and people management, faculty of management, university of johannesburg, johannesburg, south africa. Some of these operations do not have a military component but.
He documents the fact that african armed forces are not monoliths. A recent literature in political economy analyses the relationship between the civil undemocratic government and. Military coups in africa the african neocolonialism that is selfinflicted outline thesis statement. The role of the military in african politics, most importantly in both ethiopia and nigeria was only to dominate power than fulfilling what people wished to enjoy peace and political stability in the period. The last three years have seen humanitarian organizations calling for military intervention in bosnia, somalia, rwanda and elsewhere. The probability of military rule in africa, 19702007 dse univr. Military rule is contagious in africa the new york times. Military intervention in the nigerian politics and its. These accounts can be persuasive precisely because such states are indeed exemplars but not of all african states, only of significant and distinct subsets.