One of the problems of military administration in West Africa is that soldiers

Analyze the question: It asks about a problem of military administration (military rule) in West Africa, specifically something about soldiers themselves.

Explain the concept: Military regimes in West Africa (e.g., Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Burkina Faso) come to power through coups, not elections. Soldiers are trained for defence and combat, not for running government ministries, managing the economy, or making civil policy. This lack of training in governance often leads to poor policy decisions, reliance on decrees, abuse of power, and weak institutions.

Evaluate each option:

• A. are representatives of the people: Wrong. Soldiers seize power without a popular mandate, so they are not elected representatives. Also, this would not be a problem even if true.
• B. lack discipline: Wrong. The military is known for strict discipline and hierarchy. Indiscipline is not the typical criticism of the institution.
• C. are not well organized: Wrong. The military is one of the most organized institutions, with a clear chain of command.
• D. are not trained for governance: Correct. Their training is in warfare and security, not in public administration, economics, or democratic governance. This is a recognised weakness of military rule.

Answer: D.

Exam tip: For "problems of military rule" questions, remember keywords like no popular mandate, lack of training in governance, suppression of rights, decree-based rule, and corruption. Eliminate options that praise the military's traits (discipline, organization), because those are its strengths, not its problems.