Women’s Exclusion from Political Participation and Coup D’etat: A Case Study of Selected African Countries

African leaders often cling to power for extended periods without recognising the need for a peaceful transfer of authority. Consequently, many African countries are governed by long-term leaders who remain in office for decades, often maintaining their positions through seemingly democratic processes. The spread of these distorted democracies has increased tensions and triggered coup d’états targeting sitting presidents. Countries such as Gabon, Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Zimbabwe (selected countries) have experienced coups in the past decade. One significant consequence of these coups is the disruption of women’s political participation. During coups and transitional governments, women are often excluded from political roles. This paper, through qualitative, document-based research, provides an overview of coups in the selected countries, examines their impact on women’s political involvement, explores these countries’ obligations regarding women’s political rights, and offers recommendations to improve women’s political participation across Africa. Its main contribution is advocating for the inclusion of women in post-coup governments. It suggests gendered sanctions, such as the appointment of women as generals and deputies, and calls for gender-balanced leadership in transitional governments.