Military regimes in West Africa have often made use of civilians because

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks why military regimes in West Africa (e.g., Nigeria under Babangida and Abacha, Ghana under Rawlings) often included civilians in their governments.

Step 2: Explain the concept Soldiers are trained in warfare, discipline, and command, not in the day-to-day work of running a state: economic planning, law, diplomacy, education, health, and so on. When the military seizes power, it needs technical and administrative expertise. So it appoints civilians as commissioners, ministers, permanent secretaries, advisers, and members of committees and panels. Civilians also help give the regime some legitimacy and public acceptance.

Step 3: Evaluate the options

• A. Only civilians can make decrees. Wrong. Military rulers issue decrees themselves through bodies like the Supreme Military Council or Armed Forces Ruling Council.
• B. The soldiers are democratic. Wrong. Military rule is by nature undemocratic, since power is taken by force and not through elections.
• C. Civilians are part of the armed forces. Wrong. Civilians are by definition not members of the armed forces.
• D. They need the experience of civilians in government. Correct. It matches the reason above: the military lacks administrative and technical expertise and so draws on civilians who have it.

Step 4: Answer

Exam tip: In Government questions on military rule, look for the answer that points to a need for expertise or legitimacy. Options that contradict the basic definitions (civilians as armed forces, soldiers as democratic) are almost always distractors.