Bad Governance Risks Military Coups in West Africa

During the fourth annual guest lecture at Koladaisi University, Prof. Emmanuel Ojo, a political scientist from the University of Ilorin, warned that bad governance and economic hardship are driving West Africa back into a cycle of military coups.

He noted that the recent resurgence of military takeovers, particularly in the Sahel region, reflects growing public frustration over insecurity, poverty, and unemployment, as citizens perceive a failure of democratic governance to deliver tangible benefits. Ojo identified factors such as unconsolidated democracies, crises of legitimacy, weak national institutions, and external interference as major contributors to the return of military rule in Africa.

He argued that Africa's dependence on external powers undermines state sovereignty and weakens democratic consolidation. Ojo emphasized the need for African leaders to strengthen democratic institutions, improve citizen welfare, and uphold the rule of law to safeguard democracy and prevent future military takeovers.

Dr. Temitop Bello from Koladaisi University described the lecture as timely, raising critical questions about democratic consolidation in the region.