Resurgence of military coups in Africa: implications for democratic governance

For over three decades, military coups were largely seen as relics of Africa’s past, with democratic governance becoming the preferred system for addressing the continent’s complex socio-economic challenges. However, recent years have witnessed a resurgence of military takeovers in countries such as Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, Sudan, Niger, and Gabon. This study investigates theimplications of these developments on constitutional democracy in Africa. Framed within the Restoration of Order and Revolutionary Perspectives, the study utilizes both primary data collected through interviews with key informants and secondary sources from existing literature. Findings reveal a strong connection between France’s neo-colonial influence and the re-emergence of coupsin its former colonies. Persistent leadership failures, largely due to external manipulation, have hindered socio-economic progress. Additionally, widespread poverty, poor infrastructure, mass unemployment, and the failure to conduct free and fair elections have fueled public discontent, creating fertile ground for military interventions. The study recommends that France ends its overbearing influence, and that African leaders foster democratic inclusivity, reject the sit-tight syndrome, and prioritize governance that addresses poverty, inequality, and development challenges to prevent further democratic backsliding.