In retrospect, the results of military rule in this vast continent have been very disappointing indeed. Besides being unable to solve the problems they set out to solve in the first place, military regimes in some cases have created situations that did not exist with civilian governments. The following points need to be observed seriously.

Under military governments, decrees replace laws in the country such one person or a few of them become lawmakers, i.e. the role of parliament is played by the military.

They tend to lead to economic mismanagement for example in Uganda; General Idi Amin expelled the entire Asian community without any compensation. All the Asian-owned businesses, premises, dwelling houses and plantations were literally dished out to fellow soldiers, friends and any other Ugandan who caught the General's fancy. Within about two years most of those businesses had closed down or gone bankrupt owing to mismanagement and neglect.

They do not want to leave power. Some leaders declare themselves life presidents and end up violating people’s right to vote for a leader. Amin declared himself life president of Uganda, Bokassa did the same thing in Central African Republic while Mobutu Sseseko was forcefully removed after 37 years of mismanagement.

Military governments create false image of unity because people fear the gun but in reality people remain divided on tribal, religious and regional factors.

Leadership becomes the most dictatorial that they can only be removed by a gun. For example, the soldiers in Uganda during Amin and Okellos were no longer accountable for their actions. The rule of law was a total breakdown and thousands of people were massacred or simply "disappeared" without trace.

Corruption becomes more state engineered, as it remains more unchecked. Military rule has not necessarily been free of incompetence, corruption and mal administration than their civilian predecessors were alleged to have encouraged. Soldiers have been known to be more of wealth-seekers, property grabbers and bribe-takers. They have openly engaged themselves in self-enrichment activities through the barrel of the gun and through intimidation. They have become better embezzlers than their forerunners. They have made better smugglers and tax evaders. For example Samuel Doe in Liberia openly allowed soldiers to share from state coffers.

There is always a tendency of over relying on the army rather than on civilians e.g Idi Amin's regime in Uganda and Haile Mariam Mengistu's regime in Ethiopia.

Mismanagement of the country's politics e.g General Tito Okello Lutwa's regime in Uganda was a real sham.

The army has usually grown too powerful and has grabbed peoples' property such as land, businesses, and cars without compensation.

Military regimes also promote neo-colonialism. There is a tendency by African dictators to align either to the West or East for continued military support. E.g. Mobutu of Zaire and Mengistu of Ethiopia respectively.

The army often leads to interstate conflicts e.g Uganda's aggression towards Tanzania in the 1970s and recently Ugandan's border conflicts with Kenya, Uganda's incursions into the Congo, Sudan etc.

The army is usually unwilling to relinquish power. Although most soldiers promise a quick return to civilian rule, in practise they cling on to power more firmly than civilians. Hence the majority of African states today are under military leaders.

Military presidents often interfere with the electoral processes. Hence rigging of votes is common for almost all African military rulers.

The army at times promotes patched economic development e.g President Mobutu deliberately ignored the oriental province from which Patrice Lumumba hailed. This uneven development even exists in Uganda despite the revolutionary catchwords of the NRM government.

Some military regimes lead to underdevelopment with life characterized poverty, ignorance and disease. This is because they spend much on defence.

They abolish party politics, for example Museveni and Idi Amin in Uganda, Sani Abacha in Nigeria.

They increase tribalism, nepotism and favouritism, for example the regimes of Laurent Kabila, Mobutu and Amin.

They have brought a refugee problem in Africa. Refugees tend to come from DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, Sudan, Somalia, and Liberia among others.

They encourage foreign influence making their economies neo-colonial.

Violation of human rights are common with military governments. Incredible actions such as Amin’s expulsion of Asians in Uganda, massive hangings of suspected opponents in Nigeria are blamed on the military regimes.

General Yoweri Museveni has proved to be an excellent and competent military leader who has ruled a prone country like Uganda for 23 years without any attempt by the armed forces to topple him. Museveni’s military genius has led to the stability of neighbouring counties like Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo and Sudan which have for a long suffered from uncough military leaders.

Rather than solve African contemporary political and socio-economic problems, military coups d'etat in Africa have tended to drive the continent into even further suffering and turmoil. And then there is that aura of insecurity and uncertainity.

The military Generals who have maintained peace in Uganda without thinking of going back to the days of suffering under uncultured leaders like General Tito Okello and Field Marshal Idi Amin.
When and where is the next one going to be? More so now than ever before, African political systems remain unpredictable. But one thing is certain. As long as there is economic and political instability military coups will continue to occur; and as long as military regimes exist, counter-coups will continue to occur. The future of Africa is that bleak.

The Late Brigadier Noble Mayombo had an LLB. and a Masters degree in law. The military in Africa needs great intellectuals who can articulate issues to bring people together and avoid coups. May his Soul Rest in eternal peace.