Johnson Ellen Sirleaf, the former leader of Liberia, has expressed her concern about the coups that have started to occur in African nations, saying that they put African leaders in difficult situations.
She stressed the destructive effects coups have on nations and their inhabitants because she too had lived through one.
Coups shouldn’t be tolerated, and Madam Johnson Ellen Sirleaf highlighted that they don’t address any of Africa’s issues.
Empirical research, she noted, has demonstrated that coups result in destruction, fatalities, and a setback for the affected countries. It is said that rebuilding a country after a coup is a tremendous task.The former President highlighted her concern about the string of coups that several African countries are experiencing in an interview with Bernard Avle on Citi TV’s Point of View.She commended ECOWAS for its efforts in putting up a fight against coup attempts. She also urged African leaders to support and advance democracy because it is crucial for development and stability in each of their nations.
“I am worried about the coups and I think every African has to be because coups have never solved any problem in Africa. What the acclamation or justification is, the results based on empirical evidence is that coups lead to devastation, it leads to deaths, it leads to destruction and sets a country back and my country Liberia is an example.
“When you look at other countries, they will tell you when the country is destroyed, rebuilding is so difficult so I think as a leader in Africa, it is very difficult.”
She praised ECOWAS for acting quickly to try to thwart coup attempts in African nations and expressed confidence that African leaders will advance democracy in their nations as demanded of them.
“ECOWAS has been a very strong institution trying to respond to anyone that attempts to take power without going through the proper means and we hope all our leaders will commit to ensuring democracy.,” the former President of Liberia added.
However, the first female president of Liberia urged women to overcome their concerns in a message to African women.
“Get as much knowledge and information as you can, and go past your fears. Determine what your goal is and give it courage because there will always be obstacles but you can overcome them with determination,” she entreated.
