ecosystem of coups in West Africa: implications for Democracy and Regional Peace

Abstract

The Sahel region of Africa, characterized by political and security fragility has been the theatre of coups that significantly challenged democracy and peace consolidation. Most of the coups operated in recent years have been led by military juntas, who often claim their facts as motivated by governance crises, corruption, and social injustice.  This phenomenon, recurrent since the post-independence period, constitutes a significant challenge to political stability and governance in the region, raising questions on the real ability of coups to be positioned as real governance alternatives likely to propose sustainable solutions. Departing from a historical analysis of coups and cases studies of the most recent episodes (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso), this article delves into the main causes and factors of coups namely bad governance, socio-political instability, and the recent uprising security concerns. Taking reference to the democracy theories and that of regional security, the article studies the extent to which coups represent an effective alternative to the governance crisis in Africa and how they affect regional peace and democratic stability. The analysis concludes by arguing that far from being a valid solution to governance challenges, coups only contribute to exacerbating in most cases already existing structural challenges while undermining democracy.