The Crisis in Burkina Faso and the Coup Belt

Abstract Due to the military coups of recent years, the Sahel region has received some considerable attention in international media and political debates. However, we still know little about the ongoing disputes in the region. This article provides an overview of the current crisis in Burkina Faso, the Sahel state where the number of fatalities and internally displaced persons is by far the highest. The conflict is placed in the context of the country’s recent political history and in the debate surrounding the “coup belt”.