(a) What is a coup d'etat? (b) Give five reasons for military intervention in politics in West Africa.

(a) Meaning of a coup d'etat

A coup d'etat is the sudden, forceful and unconstitutional seizure or overthrow of an existing government, usually by a section of the armed forces or a small group of persons, in violation of the constitution and normally accompanied by the use or threat of force. It replaces the legitimate government with a new set of rulers without recourse to the electorate. A coup may be bloody (violent, involving killings) or bloodless (achieved without loss of life).

(b) Five reasons for military intervention in politics in West Africa

1. Corruption and mismanagement: Widespread corruption, embezzlement of public funds and gross mismanagement of the economy by civilian politicians often provide the military an excuse to intervene in order to sanitise the system.
2. Political instability and disorder: Prolonged political crises, breakdown of law and order, election malpractices and violence create a vacuum which the military moves in to fill.
3. Bad governance and dictatorship: The abuse of power, disregard for the rule of law, suppression of opposition and tyranny by civilian governments provoke military takeover.
4. Personal and selfish ambition of soldiers: The desire of ambitious officers for power, wealth, promotion and prestige drives them to stage coups.
5. Economic hardship and decline: Inflation, unemployment, falling standards of living and general economic collapse breed discontent that the military exploits to seize power.
6. Ethnicity and sectionalism: Ethnic favouritism, marginalisation and the domination of one group by another can push aggrieved soldiers to intervene.
7. Foreign influence: External powers sometimes encourage or sponsor coups to protect their interests.