Following a series of attempted coups in West African countries, RX Radio Presenter Olive Najjuma has questioned whether this is an indication of a wave of change that seeks to oust long-serving African presidents.
She raised the question after the West African state of Guinea Bissau experienced an attempted coup on Tuesday in the capital Bissau, where President Umaro Cissoko Embaló was alleged to be. He was attending a meeting with the Prime s Nabiam when gunmen in plain clothes invaded the presidential palace and fired bullets.
Minister Nuno Gome
Without clearly stating the number, President Umaro stated that some people had been killed and others injured. However, he assured that the situation was now in control.
Following the increased cases of military coups in Guinea Bissau’s neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad, Olive commented, “Could it be that the same wave which happened in the 1960’s is the one sweeping across the continent again? Because most of the leaders being affected by these coups have been ruling these countries for more than decades. It seems people are clearly tired and want change.”
Fatboy, on the contrary, disagreed with the narrative that coups indicate how people are tired of a regime, saying that no matter how bad one is, they always have supporters. However, Olive explained that even though each regime has its supporters, other discontented sections of people often express their need for change hence creating a basis for coups to overthrow the ruling party.
Furthermore, the duo denounced coup activities saying that governments which come into power through such insurrections often have the same characteristics with those they oust and citizens are often subjected to the same or worse treatment compared to that of the preceding governments.
Olive additionally remarked on the statements made by President Museveni while he was condemning the military coup in Burkina Faso. “The President said that people should not allow others to take over governments through coups because no one elects them. He then asked how they would serve the will of the people without being democratically elected.
“To this, I was like, but when you (Museveni) marched into Kabamaba army barracks in the 1980’s, who elected you? When you were the president from 1986-1996 before the first official election, who had elected you?” She asked.
Further speaking on rebel governments, Fatboy said that these, just like militant governments, instigate a cycle of democratic dysfunction that gets the country into anarchy after their tenures end.
“For example, in Rwanda if Kagame ceases to be president, the country might fall apart because it isn't built on institutions but rather on the strength of one leader. All those groups busy training in the DRC would definitely pour into the country and will destabilise and wreck it. So essentiallly the country is seated on a ticking time bomb,” Fatboy declared.
The Fatboy show is hosted by James Onen aka Fatboy, Olive, Sarah and Lesham every weekday from 6am to 10am on RX Radio.