GOVERNING THROUGH THE BARREL OF A GUM

By LI WENTAO

Africa is no stranger to military coup détats.In the past 12 months this form of forcefulgovernment takeover has shown a sharprise. The moves have predictably brought withthem civil, political and social upheaval. Howeverhope might finally be at hand after the longdecades of such strife, as international resistancemounts against African military juntas.