Historical factors, including the enduring legacy of colonialism and the persistence of authoritarian political traditions, have deeply rooted the military within Sahelian politics. After gaining independence from France, five out of the six Sahelian states—Chad, Niger, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and Mali— experienced long spells of military rule. This influence is particularly pronounced in Francophone Sahel nations, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad where military leaders have usurped power and ruled for extended tenures.
The Sahel grapples with a litany of security challenges including terrorism, organised crime, and inter-communal strife. These threats have inflicted severe strain on already fragile governance frameworks, prompting some to perceive military coups as a necessary response to these formidable challenges.
The concept of the military as an “irrational stabiliser” refers to situations where the military’s role in maintaining stability is counterproductive to democratic progress and overall stability. This notion has led to scenarios where, in a bid to maintain stability, the military has hindered democratic progress and as a result, reduced their country’s stability.
Recent coups in Mali and Burkina Faso provide a stark illustration of how military interventions can disrupt democratic institutions and their processes by creating civil unrest, political instability and causing foreign. This, in turn, prolongs the military’s interim rule and curtails political opposition, undercutting democratic ideals.
When a country has a history of military coups other forms of military intervention in politics are more likely to occur as these societies are likely to have strong military institutions and weak civilian control of the military.
