Gendered Analysis of the Wave of Coups and Terrorism in the Sahel

The prevalence of coups and terrorism in the Sahel raises serious human security concerns due to their devastating impact on socio-economic stability, state fragility, democratisation, etc. The current wave of coups and terrorism opens up avenues for asking questions about the progress of democratisation in Africa, issues of human security, protection of human rights, and, more specifically, how the prevalence of violence affects women’s lives. Hence, it is imperative to interrogate the resultant impact that the prevalence of coups has on the protection of women’s rights in the region. Therefore, this paper examines the gendered implications of the prevalence of coups and terrorism in the Sahel region. Using Nigeria and Burkina Faso as case studies, it argues for a gendered understanding of the differential impact that the increasing rate of terrorism, military coups, and worsening state fragility have on women, as well as their corresponding effects. This is in face of the prolonged Boko Haram insurgency in North-eastern Nigeria that has led to massive loss of lives, intense political instability with over 300 schoolgirls having been kidnapped till date and the September 2022 military coup led by Captain Ibrahim Traore in Burkina Faso that suspended the constitution with no progress for democratisation in sight. The paper employs a qualitative methodology and a thematic analytical framework to interrogate the gendered implications of coups and terrorism on women. It finds that a gendered analysis of coups and terrorism in the Sahel enables relevant bodies to implement preventive or mitigating measures aimed at managing hostilities, safeguarding human security, and promoting gender equality.