Recently, two American men attempted a “coup d’etat” in Gambia to other
throw the government there.
This attempt was unsuccessful.
The failed attack is one of about
five supposed coups attempted in 2014.
The question is, how many of these were actual coups
and how many were just rebellions?
First, we have to talk about what the difference is between a “coup” and a rebellion.
The word coup implies a quick powershift that is not approved by political process, or the
general populace.
A small group, literally takes power without the consent of the people.
Rebellions are powershifts brought on by a popular mandate of the people.
It is the result of the
masses removing or replacing a government or it’s leaders.
In 2014 in both Abkhazia and Burkina Faso the heads of state were forcibly
removed from power.
Those heads of states claimed that this was done in a coup, but according
to experts, that claim is more of a political play than a reality.
In both cases, angry protesters
stormed government buildings and forced leaders to give up power and leave, making the
incident a rebellion instead of a coup.
The ousted leaders are claiming that these were coups
because coups are less-respected by other nations compared to rebellions and easier
to
overturn.
For example, historically, US law only allowed aid to be sent to countries reeling from
rebellion - but not coups.
The same thing happened following the Ukrainian Revolution of 2014.
Ousted President
Yanukovych cried coup when he was unseated by parliament, even
though there was an actual vote.
Yanukovych still says the vote was illegitimate and the final
step in a coup.
Sometimes the line between coup and not a coup is harder to define.
In Lesotho, in August, military action forced the prime minister to flee, but he was able
to return a
week later and no one in the army ever officially took power of the country.
The army claims that
the leaders own police force was going to stage an armed rebellion and that he was forced
out
of the country for his own protection.
The Prime Minister rejects this claim and has called the
action a coup, but it is hard to clearly define the intentions of everyone involved.
The most successful and clear cut case of a coup d’etat in 2014 happened in Thailand,
but
that is nothing new.
NPR estimates that more than a dozen coups have been attempted there
since 1932.
Thai coups are unique because they are mostly bloodless and happen frequently
for an otherwise flourishing nation.
The military there is lawfully allowed to seize control of the
country during political turmoil.
So long as the coup is successful, it is legal and the King of
Thailand will officially recognize the new government.