COUP FEVER GRIPS AFRICA
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara (Kamalo)
The current state of affairs in West Africa, with ECOWAS the regional bloc, seems like a wind of change embedded in juntarism sweeping the political landscape. Even beyond West Africa since 2020, Africa has seen a sharp rise in military coups— shifting the political system from democratic governance to military rules.
This political development reflects persistent problems of insecurity, weak governance, economic distress, and institutional breakdown — factors often cited by coup leaders to justify their seizure of power.
In some countries, the military currently control the governments. In others, they may declare themselves transitional, but their rule is de facto military-led, leaving the political situation unpredictable and very volatile.
Sudan, Chad, Gabon, and Madagascar, all in Central Africa, have been subjected to military coups and rule since 2020.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are not only under military rules, they have exited the regional bloc, ECOWAS, to avert any attempt to thwart their junta regimes. Guinea is also under a military regime led by Col. Mamady Doumbuya since September, 2021. In October 2025, Guinea‑Bissau suddenly fell into a military coup with General Horta Nta Na Man declared as transitional leader, making that country the ninth of African nations with military regimes since 2020.
As recent as 7 December 2025, a coup attempt occured in Benin, and it is said that only the swift intervention of government loyal forces, joined by regional assistance, neutralized the situation and foiled the coup attempt. Although the coup failed, and ECOWAS has deployed a Standby Force in the country, the occurrence of coups spotlights deeper political fragility in West Africa under present-day ECOWAS.
Critics argue that the rampant coup attempts are not emerging in a vacuum, but reflect diminishing confidence in institutions and frustration with the ruling governments over the manner they handle security and governance.
While some nations are reducing their democratic term limit, earlier this year in Benin, the government passed constitutional changes, extending presidential and legislative terms from five to seven years and created a partly appointed Senate. Many saw these reforms as consolidating executive power and weakening democratic checks.
In most West African countries, and even beyond the Sahel, opposition parties and voices have been largely marginalized in recent years. Many key opposition figures have been imprisoned. Critics say political competition has been hollowed out, eroding the credibility of electoral and judicial institutions. These actions by authorities in power remain severe threats to national security and stability, which are widely viewed as one of the motivations for the coup attempt sweeping the West African soil.
Whether constitutional order has been restored, or military rules remain, the fact that coup attempts are frequent means the region’s stability is fragile, as confidence in the continuity of civilian rule has been shaken. The situation exposes vulnerabilities in the military’s loyalty, as well as in the political and security systems.
The changes in constitution by governments, including their habitual crackdown on members of the opposition has been a democratic regression, for which serious concerns have been raised by those advocating for pluralism and accountability. Until leaders refrain from moves to retain power by undemocratic means at all cost, and until they improve governance, stabilize economic conditions, and security reforms are implemented effectively, democratic governance would remain at risk.
Military coups have negative regional impacts. Instability or military rule could affect trade flows, investors’ confidence, and international socioeconomic and political cooperation, especially, at a time global markets are fragile.
However, ECOWAS as an umbrella regional body can restore fullblown democratic governance across its region, provided it wants to. It can compel political leaders to imbibe transparency, and restore public confidence in politically captured democratic institutions— the police, judiciary, electoral bodies etc. Over and above, putting in place sound security reforms, and improving soldiers’ welfare, including the protection of opposition rights, as well as safeguarding human rights and civil liberties are sure means to eradicate, or restrict military coups in West Africa, and beyond the Sahel states.