As a democrat, I become lachcrymose whenever I learn of a coup but ‘injustice’ often causes that.
When late President Mamadou Tandja of Niger was expected to step down in 2009 after completing his constitutional 10 years in office—he spuriously paved the way for his third term which caused constitutional crisis in Niger. As a result—Lieutenant General Salou Djibo led a military coup in February 2010 that ousted Tandja.
After 11 years of Tandja’s ouster—we were yesterday, September 5th able to witness the unceremonious exit of Dictator-President Alpha Conde of Guinea in a military coup led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya.
Conde who swore to beef up democracy during the early days of his administration caused a series of bloody protests in Guinea in 2019 following constitutional changes. Over 800 people were killed!
Conde unconstitutionally ran for the third term in October last year and he won amid violent protests.
What amazes me is, whenever there is manipulation of the constitutions in Africa—United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS keep mum but when the Dictators are toppled—these organizations call for the salvage of democracy!
I wish Emperor-Presidents Paul Biya of Cameroon, Yoweri Kaguta Musaveni of Uganda, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon, and Alassane Ouattara of Ivory coast would learn from the ordeal of Alpha Conde!
If the 83 year old Alpha Conde of Guinea had learned from Mamadou Tandja of Niger he wouldn’t have been humiliated. But I just have to say “Like Tandja, Like Conde.”
Malam MB writes from Bauchi, Nigeria and can be reached via: [email protected]
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