Rising cases of coups in Africa worry Buhari

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Wednesday, expressed concern over the unconstitutional change of power experienced in several African countries.

Buhari spoke when he hosted a delegation of the Universal Peace Federation at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, titled ‘I’ve experienced both military and civilian rule multi-party democracy is the best, says President Buhari.’

The PUNCH reports that Africa recorded at least 48 coups and coup attempts since 2010.

Since the start of the Buhari regime in 2015 alone, 24 coups and coup attempts have been reportedly carried out leading to unstable regimes and destabilised economies.

The affected countries include Burundi, Burkina, Central African Republic, Libya, The Gambia, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sudan, Ethiopia, Mali, Tunisia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Sao Tome and Principe.

Wondering why some African countries are still descending into unconstitutional regime change, Buhari said, “I thought we had finally put that behind us.”

On the Peace Summit being planned for Abuja, the President pledged Nigeria’s support, “relative to resources, to help in stabilising neighbouring countries.”

He also decried the challenges in the Sahel belt of the continent, lamenting that it is of great concern, as it affects both agriculture and businesses negatively.

The President described the interest of the Universal Peace Federation Africa in the continent as “quite genuine,” saying he was very pleased with the development.

In their remarks, the Chairperson of the Federation in Africa, Dr Katherine Rigney and Chairman of the Universal Peace Federation International Dr Thomas Walsh, said they believed the forthcoming summit in Nigeria “Will top them all,” having held similar meetings in the past in Niger Republic, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa, among others.