The Fragility of Democracy in Africa: Are Military Coups D’état a Never-Ending Issue?

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Adebukola Olubunmi Ayoola
Solomon Ayantayo Ojo
Oluwaseun Kugbayi

Abstract

Some African countries have in recent times been experiencing military coups, with not less than seven occurrences between 2020 and 2023, an act considered not to be unconnected to the failure and fragility of democratic regimes. This study examined the factors responsible for the resurgence of military coups in Africa and the possible end to undemocratic regimes by applying secondary sources of data, including textbooks, journals, newspapers, and magazines. The findings of the study revealed that the failure of democratic regimes is a result of the sit-tight syndrome/mentality of African political elites, unmanageable security challenges, extractive political/economic institutions, the influence of external powers, corruption, and socio-economic disparity, and weak political institutions of African countries. The study concluded that although the only alternative to unseat or displace undemocratic civil rule, military regimes had never fared better, while some have performed even worse compared with the democratic regimes they successfully plotted against. As such, military rule should not be encouraged under any guise, and people should become more active in their democratic participation to ensure solid democratic institutions that can compel whoever is at the helm of governmental affairs to comply with the tenets of constitutional democracy dutifully.

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How to Cite
Adebukola Olubunmi Ayoola, Solomon Ayantayo Ojo, & Oluwaseun Kugbayi. (2024). The Fragility of Democracy in Africa: Are Military Coups D’état a Never-Ending Issue?. PanAfrican Journal of Governance and Development (PJGD), 5(2), 80-104. https://doi.org/10.46404/panjogov.v5i2.5703
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Articles
Author Biographies

Adebukola Olubunmi Ayoola, KolaDaisi University, Ibadan, Nigeria

Dr. Adebukola Olubunmi Ayoola (Ph.D.) is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at KolaDaisi University, Ibadan. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations, a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in International Relations, and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. She has been a Lecturer for over 13 years at Wesley University, Ondo; Bowen University, Iwo; and now KolaDaisi University, Ibadan. She has attended conferences and published both locally and internationally in reputable journals.

Solomon Ayantayo Ojo, KolaDaisi University, Ibadan, Nigeria

Dr. Solomon Ayantayo Ojo holds a Ph.D. in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Ibadan. He has a strong academic background in Political Science, with Bachelor's and Master's degrees. He lectures at the Political Science and International Relations Department of KolaDaisi University, Ibadan. His research interests include peace and security studies, intergovernmental relations, and international diplomacy. He has published in local and international journals.

Oluwaseun Kugbayi, KolaDaisi University, Ibadan, Nigeria

Oluwaseun Kugbayi is a Lecturer at the Department of Political Science and International Relations, KolaDaisi University, Ibadan. He is also a doctoral candidate at the Department of Public Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. His research interests include conflict management and peacebuilding, social protection, rural and urban governance, and public policy analysis. He is a fellow of the Social Science Research Council (Next Generation), Ife Institute of Advanced Studies (IIAS) and Institut francais de recherche en Afrique (IFRA), a member of the Conflict Research Network (CORN), West Africa, and Lagos Studies Association.

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