WEST AFRICA’S RECENT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FRAILTIES

By Francis Aubee

In the past twenty-four months, there has been a resurgence of coup attempts in the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) region, with three of them (Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso) “successful” — meaning that the governments in place at the time were overthrown. This has meant an erosion of democratic gains made overtime within the region. The risk of further coups or reduction can be viewed from the lens of how strategic and decisive internal and external factors are either addressed or left unchecked. So what are the factors that can trigger public discontent?

First, when governance is deemed to be weak, electoral promises remain unfulfilled and the social contract is largely disregarded, this can easily create schisms, amplify dissatisfaction, and lower public support for the government. Furthermore, perceived marginalization when appointing top government and military officials can prove to be a leader’s undoing.

Second, endemic corruption is a big economic and social fabric destroyer that only benefits a selected few at the expense of the greater majority. When officials close enough to the seat of power and public finances apportion public funds, spend lavishly and buy properties they otherwise cannot afford, this makes a mockery of hardworking tax paying citizens. More troubling, many go unpunished…