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Amidst a surge in coups throughout Africa, Gabon turns into the most recent sufferer of “gun-barrel governance.” Surprisingly, many of those coups contain officers educated by the US Division of Protection, signaling a deeper energy wrestle between East and West for Africa’s sources. As regimes change palms, questions come up about democracy’s destiny and the affect of international influences on the continent’s sovereignty. Will Africa’s future be formed by neo-colonialism or neo-imperialism?
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By Chris Steyn
Yet one more coup in Africa this week – this time in Gabon – is the most recent instance of a rising pattern of “gun-barrel governance” on the Continent.
Sarcastically, based on navy sources, a excessive variety of these coups and coup makes an attempt in Africa in recent times have been led – or concerned – African officers educated by the US Division of Protection.
Navy observers view these coups as strikes on a chess board within the longest affect and energy wrestle between East and West for Africa’s soul and particularly its strategic sources.
“Within the case of Gabon, the coup could nicely have been executed to forestall the subsequent doable intervention of Russia. Gabon will get greater than 50% of its income from oil. The West can’t permit that to fall into the East’s palms,” a navy supply says. “Given the US and French navy presence there, it’s unlikely they have been unaware of a pending coup.”
The coup was led by the “enigmatic” Brice Oligui Nguema, the top of the Presidency’s Republican Guard, and apparently the president’s cousin. The coup ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba who has been in energy for 14 years and whose re-election had simply been introduced. His household had dominated the oil-rich African nation for over 55 years.
Learn extra: Andreas Kluth: The stakes of the Niger coup – one other step towards international battle
It is a listing of coups which have been led US-trained African officers since 2008:
In August this yr (2023) navy officers in Niger overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum. One of many coup leaders, Brigadier Common Moussa Salaou Barmou, was beforehand educated by the U.S. navy.
In January final yr (2022), Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba staged a coup in Burkina Faso to depose the elected President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. Earlier than Lt. Col. Damiba ousted the president, he twice took half in an annual U.S. Particular Operations coaching programme, the Flintlock train. He additionally underwent a State Division-funded Africa Contingency Operations Coaching and Help course; and twice attended the U.S.-sponsored Navy Intelligence Fundamental Officer Course-Africa; and twice joined engagements with a U.S. Protection Division Civil Navy Assist Ingredient.
In September the earlier yr (2021), Mamady Doumbouya, the chief of Guinea’s Particular Forces – that had begun coaching with the US Inexperienced Berets – shaped the Presidential Palace to oust President Alpha Condé. Simply months earlier he had been photographed with a bunch of US Service memebrs exterior the US Embassy.
The yr earlier than that, in 2020, Colonel Assimi Goïta led the junta that overthrew Mali’s authorities. He had labored with U.S. Particular Operations Forces for years and took half in each Flintlock workouts and a Joint Particular Operations College seminar at MacDill Air Drive Base.
In 2012, Captain Amadou Sanogo overthrew Mali’s democratically elected authorities. He had studied English in Texas, undergone Infantry Officer Fundamental Coaching in Georgia, and Navy Intelligence education in Arizona.
In 2008, Common. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz led a coup towards Mauritania’s elected president. He too had “labored with” U.S. forces.
“Having acquired US coaching in core values, democracy, civilian-led governments…troopers could be made to grasp how undemocratic their governments are…and is likely to be silently urged to make sure democracy by overthrowing these governments,” a navy supply says.
At a US Congress listening to on 31 March 2023, Common Michael Langley, the commander of US AFRICOM, was grilled over the thousands and thousands of taxpayers’ {dollars} being spent on “coaching coup leaders” in Africa.
He confirmed that each Damiba and Doubouya had certainly been educated by the US Navy. He initially mentioned he didn’t know what number of African troops the US had educated over the previous decade, however lastly – after being pressured – estimated “round 50 000”.
He assured Congress that lower than one per cent (lower than 500) had taken half in tried coups.
In the meantime, navy observers additionally level out that not all coups are in carried out in favour of the West. In truth, some are carried out for precisely the other purpose: by armies fed-up with how their governments have allowed the West to complement itself from mineral sources with little to no profit to the nation.
Learn extra: Corruption fuels coups… – Prof Asamoah on the causes of coups
“Francophone international locations wish to do away with CFA (foreign money) and extreme taxes they have to pay to France. A technique to do that is to overthrow their governments.”
One such instance is the latest coup in Niger, as soon as seen as a beacon of democratic progress and safety in sub-Saharan Africa. This time it was Russia who was accused of involvement within the unseating of President Mohamed Bazoum – and Russian President Vladimiro Putin’s “Shadow Military” the Wagner Group was fast to step in a proposal assist to the navy junta. The Wagner Group is already in a number of neighbouring West African states.
“A few of these newly established coup-led African governments wish to the East for recognition, assist, and recommendation.
“The payback to the East can be within the type of extractable sources. What appears obvious is that neo-colonialism is making manner for neo-imperialism”
“Whereas the West goals to militarise societies and get rid of non-compliant governments, the East intends to purchase no matter and whoever they’ll. This holds no good for Africa. To each events, democracy and financial freedom are seemingly buzzwords to realize traction and assist.
“As has now change into apparent, the Russian PMC Wagner Group has, regardless of the latest reported lack of it chief, continued to broaden its footprint in Africa and has rapidly provided its assist. Because the vanguard of Russian affect and pursuits, particularly in areas wealthy in strategic sources, it’s apparent that the East will condone coup-led governments in alternate for sources.
“Governments, international locations, and their individuals will more and more change into collateral injury between West and East. To stop this from occurring, African governments should search a deeper understanding of the current energy shifts and the way it will or is prone to affect on the Continent and their independence and their futures.
“The legitimacy of African states can solely acquire common assist by the implementation of inclusive governance, free from international interference. By governing for self and international pursuits, African governments will stay weak and straightforward to govern to serve the pursuits of others.
“With the rise in international navy and PMC engagements on the continent, an escalation in gun barrel diplomacy and governance could change into common and lead to a domino impact and plunge Africa into ever-deeper issues. “
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