UPSC Prelims 2023 Q98: Current Affairs – International Conflicts & Security
- (a) Discovery of rich deposits of rare earth elements
- (b) Establishment of Chinese military bases
- (c) Southward expansion of Sahara Desert
- (d) Successful coups
Answer: (d) Successful coups
Explanation
Chad, Guinea, Mali, Sudan — Common Development
All four countries — Chad, Guinea, Mali, and Sudan — experienced military coups in recent years:
| Country | Coup | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Sudan | Military overthrew civilian transitional government | October 2021 |
| Mali | Military coups | August 2020, May 2021 |
| Guinea | Military coup ousted Alpha Condé | September 2021 |
| Chad | Military seized power after President Déby's death | April 2021 |
All four are Sahel and sub-Saharan African countries that experienced military takeovers between 2020–2021 — often called the 'coup belt' or 'ring of instability' in Africa.
Other options eliminated:
- Rare earth deposits: Not the primary news reason
- Chinese military bases: Not established in all four
- Sahara expansion: A climate phenomenon, not a political event
- Successful coups = the common thread
Answer: (d) Successful coups.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. While rare earth minerals exist in parts of Africa, the common news factor for all four countries in 2020–21 was military takeovers, not mineral discoveries.
- (b) Incorrect. China has military relationships with some African countries but has not established military bases as the common factor in all four.
- (c) Incorrect. Sahara expansion (desertification) is a climate phenomenon affecting these regions but is not why they attracted international attention simultaneously.
- (d) CORRECT. Chad, Guinea, Mali, and Sudan all experienced successful military coups between 2020 and 2021 — this was the common feature that brought them to international attention.
Key point
Chad, Guinea, Mali, Sudan = coup belt (2020–2021). All four had military takeovers in quick succession. This pattern of democratic backsliding in the Sahel attracted significant international attention and condemnation.
Remember
Chad, Guinea, Mali, and Sudan all experienced successful military coups between 2020 and 2021 — this was the common reason for their being in international news. The region became known as the 'coup belt' of Africa.
Common mistakes
- Selecting Chinese military bases — while China has one confirmed overseas military base (Djibouti), it does not have bases in all four countries.
- Selecting Sahara expansion — desertification is a gradual environmental process, not a news event that explains simultaneous international attention.
- Not tracking African political events — the 2020–2021 African coup wave was one of the most significant political developments in the region.
Exam tip
Sahel coup belt 2020–22: Mali (2020, 2021), Chad (2021), Guinea (2021), Sudan (2021), Burkina Faso (2022), Niger (2023). All military takeovers. ECOWAS, AU, and UN responded. This is a recurring UPSC current affairs geography-politics question.
Sources
- African Union — Peace and Security Council Reports
- ECOWAS — Response to Coups in West Africa