The tradition of coup d'états revives in Africa

Coup d'états that seemed to have been forgotten are making a comeback in West Africa. In less than a year there have been three, although in practice we could speak of four, military overthrows of recently elected presidents, to make matters worse.  The destabilisation caused by jihadism is undoubtedly the main cause, in addition to others such as the economic difficulties suffered by most of the inhabitants, aggravated by insecurity and the pandemic.

The first occurred in Mali in 2020 and was repeated with other protagonists in 2021. The country has long sustained its independence thanks to international aid led by France in its Sahel deployment. Obviously, democratic or pseudo-democratic normality has not been restored, however much the ruling military has announced that it will call elections.

In the Republic of Guinea, a coup ousted President Alpha Conde a few weeks after his re-election in a clear victory at the polls. Once again, a military junta seized power and initiated a policy of repression of freedoms, neutralisation of political parties and mass imprisonment of the deposed president's supporters.

In recent days, something very similar happened in Burkina Faso. A military coup overthrew and arrested President Marc Chistian. The reasons given by the coup leaders are the increased jihadist threat, which has already left more than 2,000 people dead in attacks, and the lack of support and resources for the armed forces to confront the terrorists, who are one of their priority targets.

On the other side of the continent in recent weeks, another coup led by General Fattah al-Buham removed from power the transitional government that was formed after the overthrow of veteran dictator Omar al-Bashir in 1989. Upon assuming the de facto presidency al-Buham announced that he would call elections in 2013.

None of these coups was entirely peaceful. Dozens of people lost their lives in the incidents that preceded them. African Unity and the United Nations itself protested, but to no avail. The new authoritarian regimes are on their way to gaining the upper hand.