UNGA78: Tinubu condemns Africa’s coups, dictatorial regimes
Says pervasiveness of coups connotes a demand for solutions to perennial problems
Tony Emele
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, condemned the spate of military coups in Africa describing them as wrong and unreflective of the collective aspirations of Africans.
He said the pervasiveness of coups connote “a demand for solutions to perennial problems,” and does not imply Africa’s support for unconstitutional change of government.
Tinubu said this in his maiden address to his counterparts during the ongoing debate at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA.
He said, “We must affirm democratic governance as the best guarantor of the sovereign will and well-being of the people. Military coups are wrong, as is any tilted civilian political arrangement that perpetuates injustice.”
In 2023 alone, military forces in Niger and Gabon overthrew the democratically-elected governments of Mohamed Bazzoum and Ali Bongo, respectively.
This brings Africa’s total successful military coups to 107 since 1950, a lion share of the global count of 24.
The Nigerian leader argued that “the wave crossing parts of Africa does not demonstrate favour towards coups. It is a demand for solutions to perennial problems.”
Regarding Niger, Tinubu called for support from sister countries affirming that the Economic Community of West African States is still negotiating with the junta.
