What’s behind the wave of coups in Africa? | Start Here

Six countries in West and Central Africa have had coups in the last few years, with Gabon and Niger the most recent. Is there a pattern emerging? And where do France and Russia fit in? #AJStartHere with Sandra Gathmann explains.

00:50 - A wave of coups—where are they happening?
01:30 - What happened in Gabon?
01:55 - The power struggle in Niger
02:30 - What are the common coup themes?
02:35 - Governments not delivering
03:15 - The security problem
04:20 - Anti-French sentiment is growing in the region
06:00 - What role has France played in the Sahel?
07:40 - Why Russia is gaining influence
08:15 - Where does the Wagner group fit in?

This episode features:
Dino Mahtani, Independent Analyst on African Affairs
Martin Ewi, Senior Researcher, Institute for Security Studies |Pretoria
Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim, Senior Sahel Analyst, International Crisis Group
Ovigwe Eguegu, Policy Analyst, Development Reimagined
Adama Gaye, Political Analyst
Michael Amoah, Visiting Senior Fellow, London School of Economics

#Niger #Gabon #Mali #BurkinaFaso #Guinea #Chad #NigerCoup #GabonCoup #France #Russia #FrenchTroopsInNiger #AbasLaFrance #Liberte #NeoColonialism #ViveLeNiger #ViveLeGabon #AbasLesImperialistes #LiberezLaAfrique #FrancophoneSpring #Wagner #WagnerGroup

[T.image]

IT IS NOT “an idea that France treats Africans unequally”.

IT IS FACT

FRANCE HAS BEEN GETTING URANIUM FOR 0.80cents per kilogram when it’s Market price IS $200 per kilogram.

THIS IS HOW FRANCE TREATS AFRICAN COUNTRIES.

IT IS HORRIFIC!!

[briancasa]

Obviously the people of Africa is seeing other countries develop and looking at their own conditions! They are tired of being taken advantage of! You don’t need a degree to understand

[darnellrobeson]

The youth are realizing that their countries are rich in resources. Yet the citizens are poor. Makes ZERO sense. They are tired of it. Those countries should be thriving economically.

[tajeddinebadry]

You can fool some people all the time, you can fool all people for some time, but you can't fool all people all the time.

[RedHorseman]

There was an Arab spring, this is the African Summer. Still waiting on Asia fall, and European winter.

[evag]

Because Africa is tired of been the giver, then made out to look like the beggar and needy….

[Lamin_G]

*Better topic:* How does Africa effectively deal with the *ORIGINAL contagion* on the continent -- "Western" imperialism, while cleansing itself of corrupt, self-serving "leaders"?

[DarkStar_]

The idea that France is operating in the public interest is more than a bit simplistic.

[Lamin_G]

Al Jazeera: *Gabon* may have experienced a coup, but don't mistake it for "one of the poorest countries" of the world because of that; it is an *upper-middle-income nation! Get your facts straight! 🙂

[khav]

I find it interesting when they report that exports generate revenue for Niger's governments, and France provides aide in the region, omitting key factors such as the ridiculously low price France imposed for uranium, 50% of the countries money is in French banks and they have to borrow their own money with interest, just two of the many injustices imposed on many countries in the continent. Seriously these so called corporate news outlets reek of disingenuity, they all need to go find their conscience provided it is even possible.

[nelsonkalangula]

Africa will rise to power, if not in our era, it shall be in the next... A seat at the table is now in sight for Africa...

[indoman]

I used to work in Africa (Ghana and Mali) and in truth, nothing will change because corrupt and incompetent civilian governments will be replaced by corrupt and incompetent military governments. In the meantime, the prospects of the common people of the country will not improve. This has been the way it is in far too many parts of Africa for the last 65 years, when they first started to gain their independence. There are certainly stand out success stories, with Ghana headling the list.

[davidr]

As a French expatriate living in Niger, the issue is that the military generals were not reaping enough revenue from the raw mineral exports. With France issues in controlling their own African citizens, the French decided against taking any military intervention. The result for France will be the same after these coups but instead of paying off corrupt politicians, they will now pay off corrupt military leaders.

[drmarkflies]

Wonderfully balanced and objective coverage. As always, succinct coverage of complex issues. Well done Sandra!

[jizza]

Thanks Sandy for the wider all encompassing perspective. Lot of research and effort at play.

[vitust]

And why shouldn't we believe the French are not behind that in France to protect their hegemony. Unfortunately, Gabon appears not to be free as the Gabonese citizens might want to believe.

[drattler]

Africa is Africa Leave them alone that means Russia and China also

[simplyballing]

As long as all this leads to the future prosperity of all those African nations who have experienced coups recently

[gilet]

Black people are slowly realizing their potential. This is the people who are tired of living in poverty while outside countries make banks off their resources.

[LukeAche-ed]

Africa is a total mess. I live in the USA and I try to be sympathetic however, I feel that the people of these countries are 100% responsible for the condition of these countries as well as the leaders that they have in power. Some African countries have less than 10% of its roads paved. That to me is completely absurd!