Adeoye O Akinola Soon after their independence in the 1960s, several post-colonial African countries, such as Nigeria, slipped into military regimes, which reversed their political development and economic growth. Where military interventions held sway in countries such as Tunisia and Zimbabwe, diverse forms of authoritarianism existed.
Africa seemed to have rid itself of the curse of the military over the last two decades. However, the recent militarisation of politics and the resurgence of coups in Africa has become a serious concern. Now, several governments are embarking on crackdowns against opposition parties, gagging the media and other “non-conforming voices”, manipulating their constitutions to extend their tenure, and engaging in other undemocratic shenanigans.
On January 23, the military executed a coup d’état in Burkina Faso and removed President Roch Kaboré, who is…
