Military takeovers will not be condoned anymore – African Union

The African Union has issued a firm warning against military coups across the continent, affirming that such actions will not be accepted anymore.

The AU emphasises the need to uphold peace and democracy to foster development on the continent.

The African Union’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Bankole Adeoye, speaking ahead of the 2nd AU Reflection Forum on Unconstitutional Changes of Government scheduled for March 18, 2024, underscored the need to maintain peace and democracy across the continent to propel the needed development.

“Over the past 10 years, the African Union has continued through our leaders to champion democracy, constitutionalism, the rule of law, as well as sustainable development, but the multiplicity of challenges remains terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime, and poverty, and to address this, we must all frontally and robustly defend democracy.

“It is necessary to restate that democracy, with its shortcomings, remains the best form of governance, and we have always asked why. It is inclusive, and we all have a role to play in safeguarding democracy, and all of us in Africa must rally for democracy.”

Commissioner Adeoye referred to the 2022 Accra Declaration, which was endorsed by African heads of state to help defend democracy and restore constitutional rule in countries led by military juntas.

“The new trend posed by military rulers to return our continent to its past will not be tolerated and accepted, and that is why the African Union, in March 2022, decided to come to Accra to rally all actors to defend and uphold democracy. So in 2022, we came up with the Accra Declaration, which was endorsed by our heads of state.”

Background

The challenges of unconstitutional changes of government (UCG) in Africa are monumentally destructive and detrimental to Agenda 2063.

Despite the response to the scourge at different levels of governance in Africa, there has been a resurgence of UCG on the continent.

It is against this backdrop that the AU’s response to UCGs needs to be re-assessed.

A cursory glance at the AU and RECs/RMs responses and their normative frameworks, as well as enforcement measures against UCG, reveals both strategic and operational deficits.

In light of the above and other related challenges, the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC)held an open session held an open session on January 27, 2022, under the chairship of the Republic of Ghana, on the theme, “Promoting Constitutionalism, Democracy, and Inclusive Governance to Strengthen Peace, Security, and Stability in Africa.”

The PSC adopted a decision to “hold a brainstorming session/seminar with other relevant stakeholders on UCGs in Africa.

During the meeting, the government of Ghana offered to host the event.

The 3-day Reflection Forum is, therefore, aimed at reflecting on the challenges of unconstitutional changes of government and its structural triggers on the continent and how to strengthen the AU and RECs/RMs normative frameworks, decisions, and actions to vigorously and systematically check the current surge in the continent.