Unconstitutional changes of government in Africa: African initiatives (March 30, 2022)

In the past decade, we have seen advances towards democracy that Africa had been experiencing in the new century starting to be rolled back. Unconstitutional changes of government – including a resurgence of military coups and constitutional amendments to extend leaders’ time in power –, have accelerated on the continent. Out of its 54 countries, Africa has experienced a coup or attempted coup in 6 of them in the last two years, four being in West Africa. Some of these coups have unseated barely re-elected leaders in competitive elections. This apparent recrudescence of the military coups on the political scene raises questions about ‘‘Governance and Political Processes trends’’ on the continent.

These anti-democratic changes have not been met with indifference. Several African continental and regional bodies have developed instruments to deter such developments and encourage a “smooth and quick” return to constitutional order. While reflecting on democratic progress on the continent, the panellists in this Webinar are exploring the Challenges of Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa and the efforts to remedy them.

Panelists

Dr. Issaka K. Souaré specializes on democratization, governance, peace and security issues, particularly in relation to Africa, with wide experiences in both policy and academic research and institutional policy-making and advice.

Journalist-Writer, Dr. Seidik ABBA has been the central editor of the Pan-African weekly Jeune-Afrique and Head of the Paris Bureau of the Pan-African News Agency (PANAPRESS).

Dr. Thomas K. Tieku is African- Canadian international relations and negotiation expert and an Associate Professor of Political Science at King’s University College at The University of Western Ontario in Canada.

Dr. Katharina P.W. Döring is a researcher at the Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES), Södertörn University Stockholm.