IN recent years, West Africa has become a focal point of anti-Western military interventions, with the tremors extending to Niger in 2023. Simultaneously, Gabon, a central African state, witnessed a coup, marking a year of political upheaval across the continent.
Political instability and economic crises, often attributed to the legacy of Western colonisation in Africa, have haunted the region for decades. The turmoil escalated from 2020 with a series of anti-colonialist military coups shaking West African nations, including Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Mali. In 2021, Chad saw its army seize power.
July 2023 witnessed a coup in Niger, where the military ousted elected President Mohamed Bazoum. Despite efforts to combat terrorism with French assistance, Bazoum faced a popular backlash. The military, echoing sentiments seen in West African states like Mali and Burkina Faso, accused Bazoum of serving Western interests. Yunus Turhan, the Managing Director of the Mediterranean Basin and African Civilisations Research Centre, notes a ‘coup axis’ stretching from the Atlantic to the Red Sea, following the historical line of French colonialism.
Niger’s military-led government further escalated tensions by deporting the French ambassador and expelling 1,500 French troops, citing counter-terrorism activities led by the detained president. The Sahel region, bearing the brunt of terrorism-related fatalities globally, has long suffered from political and military instability, compounded by Western colonialism and corruption.
Gabon, just five weeks after Niger’s coup, experienced its own political upheaval. The army intervened following a disputed presidential election, toppling long-time civilian leader Ali Bongo Ondimba. Analysts draw parallels between Gabon and other former French colonies, highlighting the enduring influence of political dynasties backed by Paris.
Chris Ogunmodede, a foreign affairs analyst, underscores that the governance systems imposed by Paris on former colonies are outdated. Family dynasties, such as the Bongos in Gabon, are seen as extensions of French colonial rule. The coup in Gabon signalled a shift, revealing that not only political dynasties but also Western hegemonies may be losing influence in Central Africa.
Historically, France swiftly responded to coups in former colonies, as seen in Gabon in 1964. However, the subdued reaction to the recent events in Gabon suggests a changing dynamic. France’s diminishing influence raises questions about its relationship with former African colonies, with critics highlighting the corrosive impact of Western support for autocrats.
The events in Gabon and Niger spotlight France’s complex relationship with its former colonies, and the evolving perspectives of younger generations across West and Central Africa. Ogunmodede notes that the youth no longer harbour the attachment their predecessors had towards France, seeking diverse partnerships rather than sole reliance on former colonial powers.
As the year drew to a close, Guinea-Bissau, a West African country with a history of political turbulence since gaining independence from Portuguese colonial rule in 1974, experienced an ‘attempted coup.’ President Umaro Sissoco Embalo dismissed the Prime Minister amid clashes between army factions, raising concerns about the country’s political stability.
Guinea-Bissau’s history reflects a pattern of coups since independence, with only one democratically elected president completing a full term. Embalo, who survived a failed overthrow in February 2022, faces challenges in maintaining stability and addressing corruption.
The winds of change blowing across West and Central Africa suggest a re-evaluation of historical legacies, with anti-colonial sentiments gaining momentum.
