Which of the following is not a factor leading to military intervention in West African states?

Analyze the question: We are looking for the option that is NOT a cause of military coups in West African states. Four options are causes; one is not.

Concept: Military interventions (coups) in West Africa, such as Nigeria in 1966 and 1983, Ghana in 1966, 1972, and 1981, and Mali, Niger and others, were commonly justified by the soldiers with these reasons:

• Electoral malpractice: rigged or falsified elections destroy public confidence in civilian governments. This was a key factor in Nigeria's 1966 coup, following the troubled 1964-65 elections.
• Economic mismanagement: poor management, debt, inflation, and unemployment led to coups such as Nigeria's in 1983 and Ghana's in 1979 and 1981.
• Corruption in high places: nearly every coup announcement cited the corruption of politicians and public officers.
• Political instability, ethnic tension, and the military's own ambitions are also usual causes.

Step by step on each option:

• A. Excessive control of public enterprise: State control of public enterprises is an economic policy choice. It is not a typical reason soldiers give for seizing power, and it is not a recognized cause of coups. Poor management of these enterprises could contribute, but "control" itself is not a trigger.
• B. Falsification of election results: a recognized cause.
• C. Mismanagement of the economy: a recognized cause.
• D. Corruption in high places: a recognized cause.

Answer: Option A is the one that is not a factor leading to military intervention.

Exam tip: For "which is NOT a cause of coups" questions, remember the usual causes: corruption, election rigging, economic mismanagement, political instability, ethnic tension, and the military's own ambitions. Pick the option that does not fit this list.