By Lawyer Imran Darboe
History repeats itself
Last week Gabon too, joined in the frenzy of coups spreading across Africa. So far, eight African countries, primarily Francophone, have had regime changes through coup d’états since 2017. While international and regional institutions and states continue to condemn these turbulent events, the coups have ignited support, excitement, and a wave of optimism among Africans, both within and outside the affected nations. This optimism revolves around the prospect of revolutionary emancipation from Western exploitation, particularly in the current context, by France.
However, the excitement and optimism is too hasty, considering Africa’s cyclical struggle against Western subjugation. Africa’s historical reality, despite its efforts, has been the replacement of one form of subjugation by a mutated version, from slavery to colonialism to neo-colonialism and neoliberalism. This trajectory cannot be changed by simple changes of government, without addressing the psychological dynamics of colonialism and decolonization, as discussed by Frantz Fanon in “Black Face, White Mask” which persist today. In the current excitement, driven by strong anti-French and anti-exploitation sentiments, history seems to be repeating itself in similar patterns to the period of struggle for independence. It is thus necessary to assess whether this wave of coup d’états represents a genuine shift toward real change or is merely another iteration of power struggles and exploitation.
Parallels to the 1950s-1960s
During the late 1950s and 1960s, the struggle for independence saw the emergence of revolutionary figures in many African countries. With the support of their people, these leaders gained momentum and successfully wrested political power from the colonizing powers. However, Africa’s take-off towards autonomy was regrettably short-lived and filled with misfortune. Many of the initially celebrated figures ultimately subverted, driven by personal greed, egotism, and delusions of grandiosity. Many fell for the allure of self-perpetuating rule offered by colonial masters in exchange for serving their hegemonic objectives. In many cases, these leaders also exploited ethnic and tribal and any other potential divisions among their people, to ensure their continued rule. As a result, the political independence that held so much promise has failed to bring substantial benefits to the very people who had elevated these leaders with hopes of liberation. All that the African people have got out of it, is either the misfortune of self-perpetuating leaders or a cycle of forced changes of government by military strong men who have been nothing more than tyrants replacing tyrants.
In this context, it is important to recognize that the current wave of coups represents nothing more than a continuation of this historical cycle. Regardless of the rhetoric espoused by the present coup leaders, history should serve as a cautionary guide. If we take lessons from one of Africa’s notorious coup-prone nations, Nigeria, (as well as other states) it becomes evident that coups only tend to beget countercoups. This is primarily because coup plotters, much like the politicians they disdain and replace, also rely on double-dealing, patronage, and other divisive exploitation of identities, as well as force, violence and marginalisation, to maintain control, thus thriving in an environment characterized by mistrust and backstabbing.
An incomplete Liberation
Despite the above reality, the appeal of the recent wave of coups in Africa is easily understandable. They evoke a sense of hope reminiscent of the generation that fought for independence, driven by the longing for a brighter future, free from the yoke of exploitation that has plagued the African populace. However, it is essential to balance this optimism with a stark dose of reality. A fundamental question must be answered: Will the new leaders emerging from these coups genuinely prioritize their nations’ interests or, like their post-independence predecessors, falter in achieving true autonomy and instead strike Faustian bargains with new oppressors? My view leans towards the latter.
One prominent reason for my scepticism lies in the fact that decolonization remains incomplete, leaving us ensnared in what Frantz Fanon cautioned against — the psychological impact of colonization, i.e., an obsession with the colonizer’s standards, values, and judgments. In his book, “Black Face, White Mask,” Fanon discussed how we, the colonized, tend to shape our identities in reaction to the colonizer. We either adopt positions absolutely opposed to the colonizer’s identity or strive to prove our worth by mimicking them. In both cases, the colonizer’s presence and influence persist in moulding our identities. When I consider both the past leaders we have had and the new generation of coup leaders, it becomes evident to me that these two traits persist within the leadership, anchoring us firmly within the colonizer’s sphere of influence.
Reactive identities
When one looks closely, most of the previous generation of African leaders were bound to the influence of colonizers, driven by an eager need for validation through the mimicry and emulation of the colonizer’s lifestyle, behaviours, and cultural values. This fixation was rooted in their perception of the colonizer’s presumed superiority and their own quest to transcend their perceived inferiority. An examination of the lives, lifestyles and conduct of figures such as Mobutu, Mugabe, Bokassa, and even Jawara, reveals the unmistakable truth of this phenomenon. Even more telling is the publicly expressed sentiments of leaders like Houphouet-Boigny, Leopold Senghore, and Omar Bongo, who publicly proclaimed their high regard for their colonial masters. Once firmly in power most of this old guard of leaders showed little empathy with their compatriots and instead mirrored the colonizer’s values. They not only enabled the continued exploitation of their nations but also actively participated in the looting, often amassing their ill-gotten wealth right in the colonizer’s domain.
In contrast, the latest generation of coup leaders, in a paradoxical manifestation that aligns with Frantz Fanon’s views, also manifest a fixation on the colonizer’s standards, even as they proclaim resistance against France and other Western nations. While vehemently renouncing and striving to sever ties with these countries, many of them have turned to Russia and its mercenary entity, the Wagner group. In their fight against perceived exploitation, they inadvertently adhere to the geopolitical playbook of the colonizer, merely substituting France with Russia and its interests. This perspective of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” although a potentially strategic manoeuvre, bears the risk of perpetuating the very exploitation they claim to liberate their people from.
It is precisely this problem that underscores Fanon’s appeal for a more profound decolonization — a transformation that goes beyond superficial tactics and seeks to emancipate the colonized mind from the deeply internalized standards and values of the colonizer.
Dawn of a New Beginning?
Although my perspective may sound pessimistic, I must acknowledge the undeniable undercurrent of hope and the calls for transformation ringing across the African continent. I also hold the belief that a wind of change is stirring, a revolution for freedom. However, I don’t foresee it materializing from the current wave of coups plaguing the continent, although their impact will contribute. The revolution I sense may take time to fully materialize, but its seeds are undeniably being sown, slowly but steadily.
This budding revolution is intrinsically tied to a shift in mindset and worldview, which I have observed in a few recent leaders. Figures like Paul Kagame, while perhaps angling towards self-perpetuation, have demonstrated that Africa can surmount the resource curse and spearhead economic and infrastructural development that enhances the well-being of its citizens. Moreover, leaders like Akufo-Addo of Ghana and William Ruto of Kenya seem to grasp Africa’s potential and the unsustainable exploitative relationship between the continent and the West. Their rhetoric at least, reflects a commitment to revising this unequal relationship on more equitable terms. Their arguments are logical and they are unflinching in their confidence to call out Western counterparts, unlike most of their predecessors who engaged their former colonizers as swooning subjects grateful for crumbs from the master’s table. This is further bolstered by the swelling demographic of African youth, emboldened by the developments discussed by Moise Naim in his book “The End of Power.” Naim identifies three revolutions— More, Mobility, and Mentality — that have changed how power is attained and wielded in the modern world. He explains how technological advancements and globalization have democratized access to resources and information, shifting power from the few to the many. That, in addition to the ease of movement for people, goods, capital, and information across borders has fundamentally altered the global distribution of power and influence, raising the expectations of people for transparency, accountability, and responsiveness from their institutions and leaders.
In Africa, this empowered youth demographic with high expectations from their nations is increasingly cognizant of the historical and ongoing exploitation of the continent by Western forces, a legacy that perpetuates poverty and marginalization. Empowered by better education and newfound influence, and unburdened by colonial legacies, these young Africans are demanding renegotiated relationships with Western powers, based on equality and control over their national resources and destinies. They are not beholden to Western powers, and like the emerging leaders I mentioned earlier, they assert their claims confidently and unflinchingly. The continent is teeming with such young individuals, both educated and innovative, who are already effecting change in various ways.
The political landscape also bears witness to the emergence of youthful, revolutionary political actors, reinforcing the collective aspiration and drive for change.
However, while passionate commitment serves as a powerful driving force for this youthful enthusiasm, avoiding the repetition of historical mistakes necessitates a balance between passion and pragmatism. I firmly believe that Africa’s dynamic youth possess the capacity to find this balance, but they will need the active and strategic involvement of continental and regional bodies, which wield substantial influence in shaping the continent’s direction, to harness and consolidate this promising potential. Africa stands on the verge of a potentially transformative era, one in which progressive leaders and an empowered youth demographic converge to script a new narrative of hope and progress, within the right continental framework.
Imperative for Continental collaboration
The pivotal role played by regional and subregional bodies in nurturing an environment conducive to a transformative revolution cannot be overstated. The African Union, along with its diverse institutions and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), harbours the potential to channel collective efforts toward a visionary agenda. By fostering collaborative policies, they can lay the essential groundwork for a new generation of dynamic and forward-thinking leaders, capable of propelling Africa towards sustainable development and economic growth. Such progress would empower African nations to break free from the exploitative clutches of neo-colonialism. African collaboration and a unified approach are indispensable to counterbalance the historical influence of external powers and secure a prosperous future for the continent.
The rise of the BRICS countries and their bold quest to expand their global influence already underscores the transformative impact of Naim’s three revolutions, challenging traditional power hierarchies and structures. It is becoming increasingly challenging for established nations, institutions, and entities to maintain their traditional grip on power. If continental and regional bodies are attuned to these evolving dynamics on the African continent, they can pivot and recognize this wave of change as an opportunity for Africa to redefine its relationships and trajectory and ride it to success.
However, for this transformation to materialize, the heads of these institutions must recognise the current surge in coups, and the popular support they gain, as a wake-up call. They must understand that failing to make the right decisions could stifle the chances of a genuine and positive revolution, perpetuating the cycle of coups and leading to more instability, poverty, and disenfranchisement for the African people, while external exploitation continues.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the enthusiasm for change is contagious, the recent spate of coup and the rhetoric of the coupists is not likely to bring the desired change in Africa. It’s essential that we remain vigilant against repeating the patterns of exploitation that have plagued the continent. The cyclical nature of Africa’s struggle against subjugation, from slavery to neo-colonialism, underscores the need for holistic change that goes beyond mere political shifts and reactive rhetoric. Fanon calls for a conscious effort to dismantle the economic structures that maintain dependence on former colonial powers through the development of self-sustaining economies and the establishment of political systems that truly represent the interests of the people.
Thus, to pave the way for a genuine revolution that empowers nations and liberates people from the shackles of history, Africa must embrace calculated strategies, nurture visionary leaders, and harness the power of regional cooperation. The critical question that lingers is whether the moment of opportunity will be seized to chart a new course for the continent or lost to the unpredictable winds of change that echo the unfulfilled promises of the past. In the end, those who lead us must realise that whoever allows themself to be reduced to mouse, will be eaten by the cats.
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