Military Coups in West Africa: the African "Phenomenon" That is Self-Inflicted

Abstract

With the advent of independence in the late 50's and early 60's euphoria and new hopes swept through West Africa as nation after nation attained self-government.  There were new dreams and expectations as the colonial masters packed their bags and handed over the instruments of power to the indigenous peoples. To most West Africans this was the end of a long freedom struggle in which so many had suffered.  It was the end of slavery, human degradation and exploitation. The wind of change, as Mr. Harold McMillan, a British Prime Minister later called it, started sweeping through the colonial Anglophone and Francophone West Africa in the early 1950's.  Suddenly, there was this realization that the sub-continent had to be free--free from colonial domination and exploitation. Blowing through West Africa just like the rest of Africa was a new fervour for revolt and nationalism.  The revolt which was mainly spiritual was meant to drive the colonial masters from the African soil; the nationalism to mobilize the masses to the forefront in a fight for self-determination, liberty and human dignity.  The astonishing success of the anti-colonialist crusade in India, led by Mahatma Gandhi was to become a major driving force and a great source of inspiration to African nationalists.  India became independent in 1947.