A wave of military coups across Africa — from Niger to Gabon and Burkina Faso — is rolling back two decades of democratic progress and naga169 login reshaping regional politics.
The continent, once hailed for its post–Cold War democratic revival, is now witnessing a resurgence of military rule. Analysts attribute this reversal to widespread frustration with corruption, poverty, and foreign interference.
In Niger, the 2023 coup ousted a pro-Western president, triggering sanctions from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In Gabon, military leaders justified their takeover as “restoring stability” after decades of dynastic rule. But critics see a troubling pattern: juntas consolidating power without delivering reforms.
Western powers face a dilemma. France, long a dominant player in Francophone Africa, is losing influence as new regimes pivot toward Russia and China. Moscow, through the Wagner network, supplies security assistance in exchange for resource access. Meanwhile, China expands infrastructure investments under its Belt and Road Initiative, presenting itself as a “non-interference” partner.
Civil society groups warn that international responses — whether sanctions or support — often deepen instability. “External pressure fuels nationalism,” says researcher Amina Traoré. “Real change must come from within.”
The African Union has condemned the coups but struggles to enforce accountability. Without economic growth or political renewal, experts fear that the continent could slide into a cycle of military populism and geopolitical competition unseen since the 1970s.
