US Envoy Reveals Why Coups Cannot Solve Africa’s Problems

US Envoy Reveals Why Coups Cannot Solve Africa’s Problems

The United States Consul-General in Nigeria, Will Stevens, emphasized that military takeovers are not viable solutions to the challenges faced by African nations. He made this statement on Wednesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while addressing students at the “Recycling Waste to Wealth Challenge,” a competition for secondary school students.

The event took place at the Abeokuta Window on America, situated in the Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).

Stevens pointed out that Africa confronts significant issues, including climate change and food insecurity. He cautioned that only democratic stability can effectively address these problems.

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Stevens attributed the increasing occurrences of military takeovers in African governments to the reluctance of some leaders to relinquish power after their terms in office.

Recent instances include the military seizing power in Gabon, alongside similar events in the Sahel region where democratically elected presidents were overthrown by military forces in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea. Additionally, there were unsuccessful coup attempts in Guinea Bissau, The Gambia, and the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe.

Stevens urged African leaders to embrace democratic principles and ensure a peaceful transition of power. He also commended Nigeria for experiencing 24 years of uninterrupted peaceful democratic succession and encouraged other African countries to take inspiration from this.

“I hope and feel that you (Africa) can fix the problems and the problems are big; its climate change which leads to flooding, it is plastics pollution, it is food insecurity, it is the backsliding of democracy in the region.

“Obasanjo served two terms and left power, he set the precedent in Nigeria of you serve and then you step aside for your successor.

“Nigeria has enjoyed 25 years of presidential succession. President Buhari just did the same thing, he served his two terms and then he stepped aside. That is a big deal in democracy – peaceful transitions of power. That is a huge thing to be proud of, It does not happen very often.

“There are presidents of neighbouring countries that have been there for a very, very long time, 20, 30, 40 years, this leads to democratic instability, it leads to coups.

“Nigeria is the fourth largest democracy in the world, you just had a successful presidential transition, and successful elections, this is something you should not take for granted. The idea that people can come into power, they can serve and then leave is really cool,” Mr Stevens said.

“Recycling Waste to Wealth Challenge” is a U.S. government-supported enterprise competition for students in secondary schools as well as vocational and technical colleges in Ogun State.

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