Lack of Security Reforms Held Responsible for Gambia’s Attempted Coup

An alleged coup attempt in the Gambia has been denounced by the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union. The Gambian administration claims to have detained four soldiers who were plotting to oust President Adama Barrow. Political experts say that the lack of security changes in the small West African country led to the most recent coup attempt.

The democratically elected government of the Gambia said in a statement on Wednesday that intelligence sources showed that some army members were trying to bring down the government.

Sait Matty Jaw, a political analyst, says that the people of the Gambia are worried about their finances but don’t want the military to get involved in their politics.

“Despite the fact that there are a lot of other concerns, surveys show that the majority of Gambians oppose a coup. The conversation has included this, “said Jaw. “It was astonishing to learn that a land corporal was in charge. People are now debating whether or not this was really a plot.”

Three accused collaborators are being sought by the army, and four troops have been detained.

President Barrow was re-elected in December 2021 to a second five-year term.

After deposing autocratic president Yahya Jammeh, who had ruled the country for 22 years, Barrow took office for the first time in 2016.

This West African country frequently experiences coup attempts. Jammeh personally seized control in a coup in 1994, and he thwarted numerous attempts to topple him.

In 2017, eight soldiers who were close to the former leader tried to overthrow Barrow.

According to Jaw, a lack of security reforms was the root of the coup attempt on Wednesday.

People are questioning how quickly this reform is moving forward, and Jaw noted that some of these factors are contributing to the rising sense of unease and the requirement that the process go more quickly. Because there are many things that need to be done, “the other issue raises questions regarding the broader transitional justice process.”

Over the past two years, West Africa has experienced a wave of coups and attempted coups. In Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso, new governments took control; in February of this year, a coup attempt was thwarted in Guinea-Bissau.

Geopolitical analyst Ikemesit Effiong is headquartered in Nigeria. He claims that some countries’ military attempts or takeovers are the result of corruption, poor economic management, and abuse of authority on the continent.

“If you look at the age profile of a lot of coup plotters in places like Mali, Guinea-Bissau, and Burkina Faso, right across the region, they are relatively young people, and for many of them, democracy has not delivered.” “They are channeling this popular frustration with a democratic ruling in the region into violent military takeovers,” said Effiong.

According to Jaw, to prevent the military from seizing power, the government of the Gambia must reform the nation’s political, economic, and security structures.

“Adequate reforms that would fill the gaps, but also for the government to be more transparent with the populace, ensuring that the governance difficulties in this country are handled,” Jaw added.

The Economic Community of West African States denounced the attempted military takeover of the government and applauded the Gambian army for stopping it.