Consider the following pairs:
Contents23
Consider the following pairs:
| Country | Important reason for being in the news recently | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Chad | Setting up of permanent military base by China |
| 2. | Guinea | Suspension of Constitution and Government by military |
| 3. | Lebanon | Severe and prolonged economic depression |
| 4. | Tunisia | Suspension of Parliament by President |
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
- AOnly one pair
- BOnly two pairs
- COnly three pairs
- DAll four pairs
Show answer
Answer: (C) Only three pairs
The answer is (C) Three pairs are correctly matched (Guinea, Lebanon, Tunisia).
Pair 1 is WRONG:
Chad is NOT where China set up a military base.
Reports in 2021 said China was trying to build a military base in EQUATORIAL GUINEA (Atlantic coast of Africa), not Chad.
Pair 2 is CORRECT:
In September 2021, Guinea's military staged a coup, captured the President, dissolved the government, and suspended the constitution.
The African Union suspended Guinea's membership.
Pair 3 is CORRECT:
Lebanon has been suffering a severe and prolonged economic crisis — the World Bank called it a "deliberate depression."
The country faces unprecedented financial collapse affecting its people and stability.
Pair 4 is CORRECT:
In July 2021, Tunisia's President suspended Parliament and fired the Prime Minister after protests over COVID handling and economic problems.
He later extended the suspension and eventually dissolved Parliament in March 2022.
This question tests awareness of major political upheavals in 2021-2022, including military coups in West Africa, economic collapse in Lebanon, and democratic backsliding in Tunisia.
The trap is confusing Chad with Equatorial Guinea regarding China's military base plans - both are African countries but geographically and politically very different.
UPSC is testing whether students can distinguish between similar-sounding news events and avoid common geographical mix-ups in current affairs.
Chad vs Equatorial Guinea Geography
World Affairs (International Relations) Chad China permanent military base
Chad vs Equatorial Guinea: Key Geographic & Strategic Differences
Chad is landlocked in Central Africa, Equatorial Guinea has Atlantic coast
China's military base reports linked to Equatorial Guinea, not Chad
Chad borders Libya, Sudan; Equatorial Guinea borders Cameroon, Gabon
The Geographic Mix-up
UPSC tested a common confusion between these two African nations. Chad is a large landlocked country in Central Africa, while Equatorial Guinea is a small coastal nation on the Atlantic. The question's trap was placing China's military base news with Chad instead of Equatorial Guinea.
Key Differences
Aspect | Chad | Equatorial Guinea |
|---|---|---|
Location | Landlocked Central Africa | Atlantic Coast West/Central Africa |
Size | Large (5th largest in Africa) | Small |
Capital | N'Djamena | Malabo |
Key Borders | Libya, Sudan, CAR, Cameroon | Cameroon, Gabon |
Strategic Importance | Sahel security, oil reserves | Atlantic access, oil-rich |
China Military Base | No reports | 2021 reports of base attempts |
Geographic Context
Source: saylordotorg.github.io — Central Africa · saylordotorg.github.io
Name similarity trap: Both have unusual names that students mix up under exam pressure
China base confusion: Reports were about Equatorial Guinea's Atlantic port access, not Chad's landlocked position
Regional grouping error: Both are in 'Central Africa' but Chad leans more toward Sahel, Equatorial Guinea toward Gulf of Guinea
Guinea Military Coup 2021
World Affairs (International Relations) Guinea Suspension of Constitution military
Guinea's 2021 Military Coup: Constitution Suspended
September 2021: Guinea military captured President Alpha Condé
Constitution and government dissolved, Parliament suspended
African Union suspended Guinea's membership
Led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya and special forces unit
Background to Coup
President Alpha Condé had changed Guinea's constitution in 2020 to run for a controversial third term, sparking widespread protests. The military cited economic mismanagement, corruption, and poverty despite Guinea's rich mineral resources.
Coup Timeline
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**March 2020**
**Constitutional referendum** allows Condé third term`"]
s2["`**October 2020**
Condé wins **disputed third-term election**`"]
s3["`**September 5, 2021**
**Military captures** President and key officials`"]
s4["`**Same day**
**Constitution dissolved**, borders closed temporarily`"]
s5["`**September 2021**
**African Union suspends** Guinea's membership`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4
s4 --> s5International Response
African Union suspended Guinea and demanded return to constitutional order
ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) imposed sanctions
France and USA condemned the coup and called for Condé's release
UN Security Council expressed concern about democratic backsliding in West Africa
Don't confuse Guinea with Guinea-Bissau or Equatorial Guinea — three different countries
Year precision: The coup was September 2021, not 2020 or 2022
Constitutional suspension: The military dissolved the entire constitution, not just Parliament
Lebanon Economic Depression
World Affairs (International Relations) Lebanon economic depression
Lebanon's Severe Economic Crisis: 'Deliberate Depression'
World Bank termed it a 'deliberate depression' — among worst global crises since 1850s
Lebanese pound lost over 90% of its value since 2019
Banking system collapse with frozen deposits and capital controls
Over 80% poverty rate by 2022, massive emigration
Scale of Crisis
Lebanon's economic collapse has been unprecedented in scale. The World Bank called it a 'deliberate depression' because it resulted from policy inaction rather than natural disasters or war. The crisis began in 2019 but accelerated dramatically after the Beirut port explosion in August 2020.
Crisis Dimensions
# Lebanon Economic Crisis
## Currency Collapse
- Lebanese Pound devalued 90%+
- Multiple exchange rates
- Dollar shortage
## Banking Crisis
- Frozen bank deposits
- Capital flight controls
- Loss of savings
## Social Impact
- 80%+ poverty rate
- Mass emigration
- Medicine shortages
- Power cuts
## Political Deadlock
- Government formation delays
- IMF deal stalled
- Sectarian divisionsKey Triggers
Ponzi-like financial system where banks funded government through depositor money
Beirut port explosion (August 2020) destroyed key infrastructure and shattered confidence
COVID-19 impact on tourism and remittances — key revenue sources
Political paralysis preventing reforms needed for IMF bailout package
Regional Context
Source: BBC — Lebanon country profile - BBC News · www.bbc.com
'Deliberate depression' is the World Bank's specific term — not just any economic crisis
Timeline: Crisis began 2019, worsened 2020-2022 — still ongoing during question year
Don't confuse with Syria's war-driven crisis or other Middle East economic problems
Tunisia Presidential Power Grab
World Affairs (International Relations) Tunisia Suspension of Parliament President
Tunisia's Parliamentary Suspension: Democratic Backsliding
July 2021: President Kais Saied suspended Parliament and fired PM
March 2022: Parliament formally dissolved after attempting to reconvene
Arab Spring birthplace experiencing democratic reversal
Justified by COVID mismanagement and economic protests
Democratic Reversal
Tunisia, the only Arab Spring success story, witnessed its democratic gains unravel when President Kais Saied suspended Parliament in July 2021. Initially presented as temporary emergency measures, the suspension became permanent dissolution by March 2022.
Timeline of Power Grab
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**July 25, 2021**
**Parliament suspended**, PM Hichem Mechichi fired`"]
s2["`**September 2021**
**Suspension extended indefinitely**, emergency powers expanded`"]
s3["`**December 2021**
**New government** appointed without parliamentary approval`"]
s4["`**March 30, 2022**
**Parliament dissolved** after MPs attempted virtual session`"]
s5["`**July 2022**
**New constitution** approved via referendum with low turnout`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4
s4 --> s5Before vs After
Aspect | Before July 2021 | After March 2022 |
|---|---|---|
Parliament | Elected legislature with real powers | Dissolved by presidential decree |
Prime Minister | Parliamentary appointment | Presidential appointment |
Constitution | 2014 democratic constitution | 2022 constitution with expanded presidential powers |
Power Balance | Semi-presidential system | Presidential dominance |
International View | Democratic success story | Authoritarian backsliding |
International Response
EU and USA expressed concern about democratic regression
IMF bailout talks complicated by political instability
African Union monitored situation but didn't suspend Tunisia
Civil society groups within Tunisia protested the power grab
Two-stage process: Parliament suspended July 2021, then dissolved March 2022
Arab Spring connection: Tunisia was the birthplace and only success — makes this reversal significant
President's name: Kais Saied (not Said) — elected democratically in 2019 before the power grab
Chinese Military Bases in Africa
World Affairs (International Relations) China permanent military base
China's Military Expansion in Africa: Bases & Strategy
Djibouti hosts China's first and only confirmed overseas military base (2017)
Equatorial Guinea was target of reported Chinese base attempts (2021)
Part of China's Belt and Road Initiative and great power competition
Strategic ports in Pakistan, Sri Lanka also raise military concerns
Strategic Context
China's military base expansion is part of its global strategic competition with the USA. While China officially calls them 'logistics facilities', they provide power projection capabilities across critical maritime routes and regions of Chinese economic interest.
Chinese Military Facilities
Location | Status | Strategic Value | Year/Reports |
|---|---|---|---|
Djibouti | Operational base | Gulf of Aden, Red Sea control | 2017 |
Equatorial Guinea | Attempted/Reported | Atlantic Ocean access, West Africa | 2021 reports |
Gwadar, Pakistan | Dual-use port | Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean | Operational |
Hambantota, Sri Lanka | Debt-acquired port | Indian Ocean shipping lanes | 2017 |
Cambodia (Ream) | Reported facility | South China Sea extension | 2019-2022 |
Global Strategy
Source: ORCA | Organisation for Research on China and Asia — CHINA IN THE INDIAN OCEAN REGION · orcasia.org
US Concerns & Response
Pentagon regularly highlights Chinese base expansion in annual reports to Congress
AFRICOM (US Africa Command) monitors Chinese activities across African continent
Debt trap diplomacy criticism — infrastructure loans leading to strategic asset control
Quad partnership (US-India-Japan-Australia) partly response to Chinese expansion
Only confirmed base: Djibouti — other locations are ports, facilities, or reported attempts
Equatorial Guinea vs Chad: Base reports linked to Equatorial Guinea's Atlantic coast, not landlocked Chad
Dual-use facilities: China often calls military facilities 'logistics hubs' or 'commercial ports'