Enthroning the favored will is important for staunching democratic reversal within the continent, and stemming the tide of navy dictatorship.
The virus of coups d’état is being unfold throughout Africa with the declaration of the pinnacle of Burkina Faso’s navy junta that international locations within the continent ought to neglect about democracy. Ibrahim Traoré, who seized energy in September 2022, is of the agency view that the continent just isn’t ripe for this method simply but, as he marked the anniversary of his Progressive Common Revolution (RPP).
Democracy, to him, is like slavery, or a neo-colonial political contraption, and “individuals have to neglect in regards to the situation of democracy. Democracy just isn’t for us,” he mentioned. However he’s useless improper! At PREMIUM TIMES, we denounce such an open invitation to authorities not primarily based on the favored social will.
International locations like Mauritius, Cape Verde, Botswana, Namibia, Ghana, and South Africa, amongst a number of others, with robust frameworks for democracy, belie the veracity of Mr Traore’s place, with their regular strides in direction of the deepening of the rule of legislation, steady democratic transitions, multiparty techniques, human rights information and steady financial development.
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Nonetheless, Mr Traoré’s name for renascent navy rule shouldn’t be taken calmly amid the resurgence of armed dictatorships throughout the continent. From 2020 to November 2025, for example, democratically elected administrations in 9 international locations have been toppled, leading to difficult civil wars in not less than two of them. Below the grip of navy rule are Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea, Chad, Sudan, Guinea Bissau, Gabon and Madagascar. Mali and Sudan have descended into full blown internecine armed conflicts.
Since its beginning within the Athenian Agora, in historical occasions, democracy has remained the perfect type of consultant authorities identified to humanity. There isn’t any higher various to it, regardless of its many weaknesses. This level can’t be overemphasised.
Throughout Africa, navy juntas have all the time seized energy beneath completely different guises, the preferred of which is the cost of high-level corruption of political leaders, insecurity and the rising prices of dwelling that is making life insufferable for almost all of the individuals. Mockingly, they normally find yourself operating the worst types of authorities, largely outlined by continued instability. In Nigeria, the arrival of Basic Sani Abacha into energy witnessed the gravest act of treasury heist, estimated at $5 billion. About $3.5 billion of that is mentioned to have been recovered to this point.
Mr Traoré’s regime as a farce turned evident in July 2024 when he modified his date for handover to a civilian administration, with simply two months left of his preliminary promise. He then prolonged the interval to 5 years. Now, he has developed a complete aversion for democracy, resulting in a ban on all political events within the nation. He had taken over energy on 30 September 2022, following the ouster of President Paul-Henri Damiba.
The present resurgence of navy rule began with the overthrown of President Ibrahim Keita of Mali on 18 August, 2020. The transitional authorities subsequently put in place was equally swept apart in a second coup in 2021. The top of that junta, Basic Assimi Goïta, like Mr Traoré, pledged a handover to civilians in June 2022. However this didn’t occur.
Mali has since then been a playground of rival navy teams within the wrestle for whole political management of the nation. Political events have been dissolved, and so have political conferences too, thus limiting the civic area and freedom of the press.
From Mali to Burkina Faso, the contagion of coups has hit the Republic of Niger, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau – all in West Africa. The Republic of Benin survived its personal assault on 7 December, 2025 because of Nigeria’s swift response to President Patrice Talon’s name for pressing help. France additionally did a yeoman’s job with the availability of intelligence that saved him.
In West Africa, the impression of democratic reversal on regional stability is obvious within the fracturing of ECOWAS with the exit of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to kind the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). This troika belongs to the infamous ‘coup belt’ of the area.
Equally, 16 navy officers have been arrested in Nigeria In November 2025 for what was later confirmed to be a coup plot towards the federal government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And, the suspects are at present being secretly tried by the navy.
These episodes coincided with the fifty fifth Unusual Session of ECOWAS Mediation and Safety Council summit final yr in Abuja. The ECOWAS President, Omar Touray, took discover of this and cautioned that, “Occasions of the previous few weeks have proven the crucial of great introspection on the way forward for our democracy, and the necessity to put money into the safety of our neighborhood.”
Whereas navy incursions into energy shouldn’t be condoned in any respect, the actions and inertia of elected leaders, nevertheless, are likely to subvert the reason for democracy in lots of international locations, thus creating excuses for the navy to strike. For example, in Uganda, a presidential election on 15 January, wherein Yoweri Museveni was re-elected, was performed beneath doubtful circumstances. He ensured an web blackout through the polls, as opposition leaders additionally confronted a brutal crackdown. One in all them, Kizza Besigye, is going through a treason trial. Mr Museveni has been in energy since 1986.
The principle challenger on the ballot, Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly referred to as Bob Wine, fled the nation in March, after hiding for 2 months. The top of the military, Basic Muhoozi Kainerugaba – Mr Museveni’s son – declared Mr Wine wished, whether or not useless or alive. Mr Museveni has turned the nation’s parliament right into a rubber stamp institution. And, it’s being rumoured that the son is being groomed to take over the mantle of presidency from the daddy. Because of this Uganda is sitting on a powder keg.
The same travesty of democracy is being enacted in Benin Republic, beneath the tough grips of the political machinations of President Patrice Talon. Political competitors, opposition or dissenting views usually are not tolerated within the nation. Because of this, the get together fashioned by a former president, Boni Yayi, has been barred from taking part within the presidential election that started final Sunday. And the nation’s five-year presidential tenure has been modified to seven years.
In Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, 83 years previous, is about to scrap the presidential election, as he cedes the facility to elect the president to the parliament. Additionally, the presidential tenure has been adjusted from 5 to seven years. This means that his tenure will finish in 2030, as towards the unique date of 2028. These constitutional alterations require a referendum to come back into impact.
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But, because the din from the opposition towards the modifications rise, his get together, Zanu-PF, has dominated out any referendum to legitimise them. Thus, darkish clouds are gathering over the Zimbabwean political firmament, and the hope is for this to not lead to one other occasion of democratic reversal.
Ousted President Umaro Embalo of Guinea had turned democracy on its head when in energy, along with his dissolution of the parliament in 2023, because of its dominance by the opposition. He had begun ruling by way of decrees. Then the nation’s navy struck on 26 November, 2025.
In Cameroon, 92-year previous President Paul Biya, who got here to energy in 1982, has been successful each election since that point, and the final one was in October 2025, amid a vicious crackdown on the opposition and nationwide turmoil. It will be no shock if this hits political headwinds within the close to future.
Africa has undoubtedly had sufficient of those pseudo democrats, both in navy or civilian garb. Democracy has its ethos solid within the tolerance of opposition, competitors, multipartism, dissenting views, the observe of transparency and accountability. That is the one approach ahead.
Within the absence of the foregoing, the individuals ought to hold resisting all types of abuses to their rights to decide on these to symbolize them in governance, whereas enabling orderly democratic transitions.
Enthroning the favored will is important for staunching democratic reversal within the continent, and stemming the tide of navy dictatorship. Something wanting this may solely intensify the instability plaguing Africa. It is a name for strengthening the guardrails of democracy within the continent, which is incumbent on a complete of society endeavour.
