Democratic Reversal in Africa and the Rise of Military Coups in the Sahel and West Africa: An Assessment

In recent years, Africa has witnessed a noticeable return of military interventions in politics, particularly across West Africa and the Sahel, reversing decades of gradual democratic progress. This study investigated the resurgence of coups in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea-Bissau, with a focus on understanding both their immediate triggers and deeper structural causes. The analysis examined how governance challenges, institutional fragility, and persistent insecurity shaped the renewed relevance of military actors in political transitions. It also evaluated the implications of these developments for democratic governance and considered the responses of regional and international actors, including the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union, and the wider global community. Adopting a qualitative approach, the study drew on secondary data and applied a case study framework to compare developments across selected countries. The discussion is informed by theoretical perspectives such as contagion dynamics, institutional weakness, and security failure, which together provide insight into the conditions that make military intervention more likely. The findings indicated that the resurgence of coups is closely linked to declining governance performance, weak state institutions, and the inability of civilian governments to effectively address security challenges. To address this trend, the study emphasised the need to strengthen democratic institutions and improve governance outcomes. It further argued that regional bodies must move beyond symbolic condemnation and play a more proactive role in addressing the socio-economic and security concerns that fuel political instability.