Every now and then you hear about some popular coup by the army, forcing out some corrupt president. It's worriesome that these nation's people can't think of any way to influence the empowered in their nation by any means than waiting for someone to threaten force.

I think if people have a problem with their rulers authoritarian tendencies, they should find ways legal and political to force these people out. Waiting for men with guns to stand up for them might not work out so well; the men with guns are usually only standing up for themselves.

I can definitely understand Kevin Sutton concerns but the Military is the best institution to bring about change when leaders refuse to leave. Think of it, Majority of the citizens of these countries are illiterate and information is tightly controlled by the leaders, spreading the message for a demonstration is very difficult.Two, majority of the citizens are poor and spend most of their time looking for the next meal, they can not afford to be interrupted to pursue philosophical ideals such as Democracy. Three, the leaders who are often overthrown tend to take very good care of the military by ensuring they get the basics and information that other citizens lack, in other words, the military is in the know.
Sure, I wish we could have an Orange revolution across the continent but with the limitations we have,that would be difficult.

It is old age conundrum of sorts. In Africa, military coups, however you look at it, are an almost necessary panecea of ailing political dispensations! Why, you may ask? Well because the majority of the leaders just democracy as springboard to a life of wealth and enjoyment for themselves and those close to them. I have witnessed a good number of African Presidents descend into being dictators after winning a democratically conducted election. They come first under the guise of democracy and then once eleceted they develop dictatorial tendencies after realising that delivering on election promises is a much tougher job than campaigning. And therein lies the jinx! Leaders that have failed to deliver on the economic front wanting to cling on to power at the expense of the greater good that democaracy is supposed to bring. And the first thing that they rush to is to change the constitution and the electoral system. This entrenches them and their cronies in positions of state even though they know that they do not deserve them. The population is often times coerced in submission because if one wanted to protest the brutality that will be metted out by the state institutions such as the police force will be too much to countenance for an already impoverished individual. Living in Africa as I do, I have seen this too often. The military then becomes the only institution that has the instruments powerful enough to oust the politicians. The goodness with the army is that they do not pretend to the people that they are coming in as democrats! They put it blantly that it is a coup and people prepare themselves as such. And so to blame them will be to condone political savagery. We should all remember that no one goes into politics to serve others. All individuals go into politics to serve their egos first and foremost. The other things that happen are just a consequence of that. It will also be very gullible of us to assume that the African Union as an institution will come in and save us. The AU as it stands as a club of serving presidents and to expect them to challenge one of their own would be asking too much. Who knows maybe the others would be thinking of going the same route as Tandja, for instance. In the case of Niger, when Tandja changed the constitution, the AU kept mute. When the army intervened on behalf of the population, the AU sprang up and mentioned sanctions! It is a fallacy. A club of waste and largesse meant to appease the egos of the ruling class. It is never on the side of the masses. Uganda is a case in point. Changed the constitution without any objection from the AU. This is the bottom line.
Humphrey Himwaaba, Lusaka

It's funny how the Economist finally realizes that it is better to prevent than to cure...how does this compare with the tabloid's (i.e. Economist's) view of the Honduran crisis?

Perhaps China is merely keeping consistent with its foreign policy of non-intervention rather than not caring about democracy per se.

This is the hazard of governing system structure in Africa. Some areas of our constitution should be maintained as fundamental and unchangeable, except by a rigorous system inclusive possibly of referendum in order to avoid incidences such as led to this unnecessity.

No amount of rationalization will justify military intervention in politics and moreso in Africa as undemocratic means of governance continuously infuses poisonous and negative values of political socialization, participation and institutionalization in any country, and even worse still when the country is predominated by an illiterate and ignorant populace.

@Kevin Sutton
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

To extend or abolish term limits should be viewed as a non-military coup by those currently in power.

Why western media has to give a negative image to Africa/Africans in any news report? I never read or watched a report about Africa where there is no an expression of negativity about the continent. You are reporting a coup d’état. Where THE HELL did you get the “ dusty capital “ from? Please STOP IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"China, it seems, does not care about democracy in Africa."

- nice to have a daily understatement.

We need to have democratic elections as soon as possible.