Assessing External Actor Involvement In Coup D Etat In Africa:A Comparative Analysis Of French Role In Mali And Niger Militray Coups(2010-2012)

Military coups and military in politic is a recurrent phenomena in African political systems.To this end,it is imperative to understand the motivation and underlying causes for military involvement in politics.More important is the role of external actors to this phenomenon of military coups and military in politics in Africa.This is more so where colonial legacies is play a role in informing governance system in the continent.This study is informed by need to interrogate the role of external actor in military coups in Africa.Specifically the study undertakes to explore the role of French in post colonial Africa civil military relations.This is informed by military pact arrangement that French government went into with their former colonies in Africa.It is on this basis that French has played a leading role in Africa's military in politics.The study undertook to examine two military coups cases in Africa and role of French government in both cases.The case studies under review are Niger and Mali.More precise,the study examined why French government directly intervened in Mali to stop the military coup,as opposed non intervention and implicit support for Niger case.There is need to holistically compare the interventions,the policies underpinning them in the two countries as well as the implications of the interventions.The study broad aim was to assess and analyze the macro factors motivating French intervention in Mali and Niger,the policies employed to effect the interventions,and the implications of the intervention.Towards meeting the study objectives on French role in military coups in Mali and Niger,the study was guided by classical realist national interest theory.The theory asserts that,in international system,states are unitary,rational and out to maximize gains in international politics.In this study,realist theory comes in handy to explain why French got involvement in thwarting Mali military coups and implicitly supporting the coup in Niger.National interests guided policy decisions in both cases.Methodologically the study employed qualitative research design.The study relied on secondary data to provide evidence and to support the argument.Consequently,secondary sources in form of academic journal articles,books,online newspapers,official government statements from policy makers proved invaluable.The study is organized into five chapters.Chapter one has preliminary of the study which includes study questions,objectives,theoretical framework and research design.Chapter two looks at French colonial and post colonial policy in Africa and how that informs contemporary governance process in the continent.Chapter three is on selected case of Mali.Chapter four is on selected case of Niger.Chapter five is study's summary,conclusion and recommendations.The study found out that security and economic interests informing French conduct in the two cases military coups.French military pact with post independent African government has informed much how French reacts to military takeover of civilian rule.In a condition where French government is uncomfortable with an African government,French will stand by and watch as military coup happens.However if,French government is in full support of an African government that serves French national interests,whenever there is a coup French is quick to invoke military pact and intervene in support of the civilian government.It is these conditions that can best be explains French role in Mali and Niger cases.For the case of Mali,French government had to intervene and support the existing weak civilian government.Mali coup should be understood within the broader framework on French role on war against terror in Sahara and Sahel region.Mali for a long time has a volatile north region which for a long time been fighting the central government situated in south on account of discriminations and unequal opportunity.Matter got worse when Libya government collapsed and well Tuareg rebels came back to challenge weak civilian Mali government.The rebels together with Islamist jihadist intentions to establish a caliphate was enough reason to worry Mali central government.Mali military was ill equipped compared to the Northern rebels that were making advance towards the capital Bamako.Faced with these challenges and failure by the central government to offer enough support to the military on the ongoing onslaught with the North rebels,military staged a coup against the civilian government.Before long,French assistance would be sought in the ensuing confrontation to fight back the rebels.A security threat caused by Islamist terrorists is what motivated French to actively get involved in Mali case.On the other hand,French involvement in Niger coup was more indirect as opposed to Mali where French had to send its military troops.Niger coup was a combination of domestic economic issues and French interests in the country's uranium deposits where French has a controlling stake.In Niger the president facing his last term in office attempted to extend his stay through a constitutional amendment.This move was not welcomed by cross-section of both domestic and foreign missions.The situation created an atmosphere of political confrontation between the ruling regime and the opposition forces.Protests and demonstrations become a common occurrence in the city Niamey as well as other parts of the country as oppositions tried to oppose the president's intentions.French government was also not in support for constitutional change on term limits.Niger president facing all manner of opposition both local and international embarked on a number of repressive measures as a way to deal with the opposition which still did not work.As security situation seemed to get out of hand,the President made a major economic policy decision that caught many by surprise.He announced the intention to revise the country's agreement concerning uranium extraction in the country which French was in control of.In a major public announcement,the president made it clear that he will welcome other players in the uranium sector which would challenge French dominance.Amidst this declaration,protests and demonstration in the country was still ongoing.It is after this announcement on uranium and worsening political situation that the Niger military staged a coup to oust the president on claim to restore democratic order against president move to change the constitution.French government having been threatened on losing uranium sector implicitly supported the coup and later supported progressively the restoration of a civilian government.In both cases,French national interests in fighting terrorism in case of Mali explains their interventions while economic interests of securing uranium access explains French non involvement in Niger case.