THE military coup in Mali that violently sacked the elected government of President Amadou Toumani Toure has clearly set back the country several folds. First is its effect to undermine a bourgeoning tradition of democracy, particularly as the soldiers struck only days to a scheduled general election. Next is the aggravation of the Touareg rebellion in the north, which has assumed a dangerous dimension. Having started the resulting instability however, the Malian military has a duty to restore normalcy to the country by quickly restoring democracy.The wide revulsion that greeted the coup underscores the diminished tolerance of military interventionism in the democratic process in Africa and beyond. There was widespread condemnation of the band of army mutineers led by hitherto unknown Captain Amadou Sanogo. Military adventurism is no longer fashionable.For attempting to truncate a thriving democratic experiment in Mali, the coup is condemnable. Captain Sanogo and his co-mutineers should not have set back Mali's progress in such manner, and they should follow the path of reason and immediately return Mali to a democratic government. Fortunately, the ousted President Toure who had barely two months in office has effectively resigned, leaving the junta bound with its reported agreement to step down for an interim administration that would conduct the planned election within sixty days. The stage therefore should be prepared for a free and fair election. The interim administration should be given enough time to arrange the polls. Captain Sanogo should also live up to his pledge not to stand in the planned election, so as to create a level playing field for the other contestants.Claiming to be incensed by a Touareg rebellion in the north of Mali, which the mutineers claimed the sitting President Toure was unable to contain, the soldiers had attacked the Presidential Palace and sacked the President. They also accused him of incompetence. It is important at this stage that the soldiers hand power back to a democratically elected president. They must take the blame squarely for worsening the country's unity and jeopardising its territorial integrity.Expectedly, the world is not taking kindly with the unfolding situation in Mali. Nigeria, as well as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) have roundly condemned the coup and urged the soldiers to return power immediately to the democratically elected government of President Toure who has now resigned.In the same vein, the United States, the UN and France, the former colonial master, denounced the coup. France said it was suspending some security cooperation with Mali. The ECOWAS has also imposed trade and diplomatic sanctions against the junta, following the expiration of its ultimatum. Isolated, the regime faces difficulties in meeting basic needs. Meanwhile, the Touareg rebellion in the north took a more dangerous dimension as the rebels, apparently buoyed by the shaky position of the coup plotters, practically overran the northern half of the country and declared the independent republic of Azawad. After seizing Kidal and Gao, the rebels marched as far as Timbuktu, the ancient city of historic importance and seized it, thus putting the junta in a dilemma.Mali is in a precarious situation as the country declines. This is sad for a country with a fairly successful democratic story, even if it is among the poorest in the world. What is at critical now is to return the country back to democracy.It is disheartening that democracy appears not to be working in much of Africa. Why is it difficult to have a smooth transition of government on the continent' President Toure had said he was not running for another term. The military should have given him chance and allowed the people to sort out the country's problem through the ballot box. Their action portended lust for power. Truncating a scheduled election is in bad faith. Quite unlike the role she played recently in Cote d'Ivoire and Libya, France has not shown any interest in the Malian crisis. Why is she lukewarm in a crisis that is tearing Mali apart'There is need to manage the crisis effectively and save the country from further disintegration. First is to hold election soonest. That would give confidence that the soldiers are not power mongers. Thereafter, the soldiers should return to the barracks and concentrate on their constitutional role of territorial defence.African leaders should not be complacent with democracy. The leaders need to respond positively to the yearnings of their people. Democracy should give people hope and meet their aspirations in a way to discourage soldiers from undue intervention in government.
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