The resurgence of military takeovers across Africa, particularly in West Africa has become a troubling pattern. Coups have once again tested the continent’s commitment to democratic ideals.
Yet this piece is not merely about the soldiers who seize power; it is about the loud hypocrisy and selective activism of the regional and international bodies that claim to defend democracy.
Each time a military junta strikes, the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, the European Union (EU), the United Nations and other global actors quickly issue familiar statements: “We condemn the coup. It is unconstitutional, undemocratic, unacceptable.” They mobilize press conferences, emergency meetings, sanctions, and threats. But where are these loud voices before democracy collapses? Why do they suddenly go silent when elected presidents smuggle authoritarianism into governance?
This is the real tragedy.
Take Guinea-Bissau, for instance. Long before the recent military unrest and attempted mutiny that rattled the country, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was already cultivating a climate of political tension.
His administration was repeatedly accused of constitutional manipulation, dissolving parliament multiple times, and using security forces to intimidate opponents. ECOWAS and the AU watched from the sidelines as the nation slid toward institutional paralysis.
When soldiers eventually confronted the chaos, leading to the dramatic December 2023 shootout and the December 2024 standoff that again reflected deep political fractures, international bodies acted surprised. But was the crisis not predictable? ECOWAS had all the warning signs, yet chose silence over confrontation. Suddenly, when soldiers reacted to a collapsing democratic order, the condemnations poured in.
A similar script played out in Tanzania. Under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the government faced significant criticism for suppressing opposition voices. Prominent opposition figures were detained, harassed, or forced into exile. By the time the ruling party effectively turned the political space into a one-woman show, local and international observers had long raised red flags.
Yet neither the AU nor the regional blocs took serious action. Instead, they watched quietly as opposition rallies were banned, dissenting leaders were locked up, and the electoral field became a stage for a predetermined outcome. Only after the damage had been done did the so-called defenders of democracy begin to mutter concerns—far too late to change anything.
This selective outrage exposes a deep flaw in Africa’s democratic architecture. African institutions often wait for the final collapse before pretending to intervene. They lack the courage to challenge sitting presidents who trample human rights, suffocate dissent, manipulate constitutions, or extend their tenure. But once the military steps in, usually responding to long-ignored grievances, these same institutions find their voice overnight.
Nobody in their right mind supports military rule. As the Fuji musician Taye Currency humorously puts it, “Sometimes, madness cures madness.” But that is a bitter proverb for bitter times. The truth is that coups often sprout from the soil of failed civilian governance, and from the silence of regional bodies that refuse to call out democratic decay.
It is time for African leaders to stop pretending. The AU, ECOWAS, and their partners must not only condemn coup, they must prevent them. They must speak boldly when presidents abuse power, suppress the opposition, or threaten constitutional order. Democracy is not only about elections; it is about institutions, accountability, political freedom, and respect for citizens’ rights.
Africa needs leaders who are guided by democratic principles, not political convenience. And the AU must have the courage to talk sense into its member states before the situation deteriorates to the point where frustrated soldiers attempt to “reset” a system that should never have been broken in the first place.
My take: If Africa truly wants to end the era of coups, it must first end the era of silence.
- Babs-Oluribigbe Adeoye is the Publisher/EIC of WesternLifeNewsNG and Westlife Magazine
