Liberian Army Chief of Staff, General Prince Charles Johnson III, recently cautioned African leaders regarding the establishment of paramilitary groups, known as presidential guards, for personal security.
He cited incidents in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, attributing the prevalence of coups in several African nations to factors such as misrule, lack of respect for human rights, and accountability deficits by civilian governments.
Johnson made these comments when addressing ECOWAS Security Delocalized Meeting, held in Liberia under the theme: “The Role of Armed and Security Forces in Political Governance.” He highlighted the dangers associated with such actions and shed light on the root causes of coups in Africa.
Johnson emphasized that these conditions contribute to the military’s intervention in political affairs, creating instability and jeopardizing democratic consolidation in the region.
In an effort to prevent and effectively handle coup situations, the Liberian Army Chief of Staff recommended to the Economic Community of West African States to collaborate with civil society and non-governmental organizations, as well as regional bodies, to support post-coup transitioning processes.
This, he said, includes fostering national reconciliation and enhancing legitimacy and effectiveness, by providing a platform for stakeholders to dialogue and reach consensus on transitional plans.
Johnson stressed the importance of adhering to democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law, during the transition period.
For consultant, Colonel Festus Aboagye, who also shed light on some underlying challenges and contributing factors to coups in West Africa, he highlighted democratic governance deficits, political interference, bad civil-military relations, and mismanagement of national security efforts against terrorism and extremism as some causal factors that make the region susceptible to coups.
To address this critical issue, he called for collective action and coherent efforts to tackle the root causes of military involvement in politics, emphasizing the need for a more balanced and cooperative relationship between armed forces and civilian authorities, promoting a culture of respect for human rights and combating corruption within security services.
Aboagye urged ECOWAS and the international community to take a stricter stance against democratic backsliding and support the strengthening of democratic institutions.
Additionally, fostering healthy civil-military relations was highlighted as vital to creating a stable political environment in the region.
In terms of transitions, Johnson and Aboagye encouraged ECOWAS and the international community to constructively engage and mediate in establishing purposeful transitions with clear priorities, milestones, and timelines.
This approach was deemed more effective than imposing terms on coup leaders and countries, the military men said.
Furthermore, enhanced collective regional security cooperation, in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and key partners, was proposed to address shared security concerns, contributing to state fragility and susceptibility to coups.
The AFL Chief of Staff’s cautionary message serves as a timely reminder to African leaders to prioritize democratic principles, strengthen institutions, and foster healthy civil-military relations to combat the rise of coups in West Africa.
The call for collective action and regional cooperation underscores the urgency in addressing the underlying causes of military involvement in politics, and ensuring the region’s democratic consolidation and stability, the two men noted.
