Independence, the ultimate salvation any nation desires for liberty, symbolizes concrete sovereignty, freed from the direct subjugation of a foreign power. Between 1958 and 1965, several African nations celebrated their independence, a moment filled with hope. However, since then, countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Niger, Gabon, and Guinea have been shaken by a series of political upheavals, including coups d'état. These seemingly recurrent events raise crucial questions: why does this disruption persist, and what dynamics underlie the enduring political instability? We delve into these inquiries on entrefemme.com, seeking to understand the nuances of this complex reality and decipher the motives that have marked these nations over time.

I- The Legacy of Instability

The image of a gun, a coup, unfortunately, becomes all too familiar for many Africans. A Burkinabé child has already witnessed two, a Sudanese born in 1957 has experienced seventeen, and a 72-year-old African has been a spectator of at least 216 coups d'état on the continent. This unfortunate realization makes Africa the champion of coups, surpassing Asia (49) and South America (146). But what is the root cause of this recurring political instability?

II- Fragility of Institutions

According to Farida Nabourema, a human rights activist and researcher at Johns Hopkins University, institutions in most African states are incredibly fragile, leaving the military as the sole functional institution. Over the past two years, the continent has witnessed six coups and two attempts, affecting Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Mali, and Sudan. The military succeeded in some cases but failed in Niger and Guinea-Bissau.

III- Consequences of Poor Governance

Why this avalanche of coups in such a short period? Juste Codjo, a professor of international security at New Jersey City University, emphasizes that it primarily stems from poor governance. Of the eight coups recorded in recent years, six occurred in the same sub-region, West Africa. In Mali and Burkina Faso, populations took streets to demand government action against persistent issues. The political atmosphere became toxic as the political and military systems in place since independence failed to resolve major crises, especially those related to security.

IV- Power Concentration and Authoritarian Drift

Jacques Chevrier, in his work "The Failure of African Political Systems," had anticipated this situation. Juste Codjo adds that the "presidentialization" of defense and security forces is a key element. In many African countries, parliament is often absent when controlling the management of defense and security forces. Everything relies on the president, who ensures not only the protection of the territory but also the safeguarding of power and the regime. However, this concentration of power makes the presidential guard and other elite units too powerful, turning them into detrimental instruments of influence.

V- Economic and Neo-colonial Stakes

In 2019, journalist Anne-Cécile Robert titled "Coup d'État in a Country without a State," highlighting the fragility of political systems under the influence of international financial institutions and multinationals. These West African countries also share a colonial past with France. The discovery of new resources, such as diamonds, gold, manganese, oil, and uranium, strengthens the strategic interests of countries like France.

VI- African Youth in Action

In response to these changes, African youth, increasingly informed through new technologies, become more active against what they perceive as imperialism and neo-colonialism. Even if the information is not always accurate, this youth acts accordingly. It is not uncommon to see civilian or military children engaging in overthrowing failing regimes, appealing to an army often frustrated and feeling neglected by the central government.

VII- A Message to Leadership

These coups can be seen as a message from the youth to their leaders: the situation is serious.