Spike in military coups threats democratic transitions in Africa, says AU Chairperson

JUBA – The newly-elected chairperson of African Union (AU), Macky Sall on Saturday said that the recent surge in military coups posed great threat to democratic transitions in African Countries.

There have been six coups or attempt coups reported in African in last 18 months.

The mostly recent coup occurred in Burkina Faso, where soldiers ousted President, Roch Marc Christian last month.

Four member states were suspended by African Union’s Peace and Security Council since mid-2021 as a result of the military power grabs.

“I do not forget the resurgence of the phenomenon of coups d’état which constitutes a major attack on democracy and institutional stability on continent,  Sall said during the opening of the 34th  African Union summit in Addis Ababa on Saturday.

Sall reiterated his office readiness to continue to fight against terrorism, environmental protection, health and economic and social development.

“At the same time, our challenges remain numerous and pressing, notably in the areas of peace and security, the fight against terrorism, environmental protection, health and economic and social development,” he said.

Many African countries saw coups in the years after independence in 1960s and 70s but there had been marked declined since the 1990s.

The first decades of this century saw eight takeovers each but there have already been six since 2020.