#ibrahimtraoré #burkinafaso #france

From the mineral-rich heart of Niger to the dry plains of Mali, an increasing number of military takeovers have thrown the region into disarray and raised serious concerns about stability, governance, and the very survival of democracy. The days of cautious optimism that followed the late 20th-century wave of democratic transitions are long gone. A sense of déjà vu lingers in their place, reflecting the tumultuous past of coups and strongman leadership. A devastating turning point occurred in 2020 when the military in Mali overthrew a democratically elected government.
After this seemingly isolated occurrence, similar power grabs occurred within a year in Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Chad. The incident quickly became a regional epidemic. The fragility of the democratic fabric in the area was further highlighted by the coup in Niger last year. However, these military actions go beyond simple abuses of authority. They frequently result from a convoluted network of complaints that include pervasive poverty, governmental dissatisfaction, corruption, and insecurity. Particularly in the Sahel, jihadist insurgencies have further damaged public confidence in governments, which has made military involvement more likely.



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