West Africa has faced challenges in its democratic journey in recent years. The ideals of a government “of the people, by the people, for the people” haven’t always been fully realized. . Instead, we have become quite familiar with coups. It started with Mali in 2020, followed by Guinea in 2021, and Burkina Faso in 2022. We swallowed hard, maybe even laughed a bit nervously, but when Niger joined the club in 2023, it became clear that democracy indeed is going on a vacation. And now, the junta-run Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have plans to form a confederation.
The Birth of a Confederation: The Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Recently, we heard that the junta-run countries of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are finalizing plans to form a confederation after snubbing their former colonial ruler, France, in favour of closer ties with Russia. Their foreign ministers met in Niger’s capital, Niamey, to agree on a text establishing the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
What exactly is a confederation, you ask?
It is a type of government where a group of independent states come together for some shared purpose while maintaining their own authority. They usually join forces for mutual defense or to address common crises.
“The objective was to finalise the draft text relating to the institutionalisation and operationalisation of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)”, said Niger Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare as he read the final statement late Friday.
He said the text would be adopted by the heads of state of the three countries at a summit, without specifying the date.
“We can consider very clearly, today, that the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has been born,” Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said after meeting General Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of Nigerien military regime.
However, the central government in a confederation is usually weak, and the individual states like to do their own thing. everyone has their own idea, and compromise is rare.
Wagner Group’s African Vacation
Russia, ever the opportunist, has jumped at the chance to extend its influence. The Wagner Group, a notorious private military company, has about 1,500 troops in Mali. Their founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been cheerleading the coups and offering services to the new rulers, although his actual control over the group is questionable after his failed mutiny in Russia.
These countries are waving goodbye to France, accusing them of failing to curb jihadist violence. They have left ECOWAS, which they claim is under French influence, to create their own regional group. But ditching one master for another isn’t exactly a bold move for independence. Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” comes to mind: “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds.” If only the leaders took this to heart instead of jumping into bed with Russia.
It seems like these countries are trading one form of control for another, hoping Russia will be less demanding than France.
Let’s take a whirlwind tour of the recent coups
Mali: In May 2021, the Malian Army, led by Vice President Assimi Goïta, decided to capture President Bah N’daw, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, and Minister of Defence Souleymane Doucouré. This coup was the third in a decade, following similar takeovers in 2012 and 2020. The promise of new elections in 2022 has been postponed, with the government citing “technical reasons.” One thing is clear: once the military takes power, they become quite fond of it, leading to more coups and in-fighting among the power-hungry leaders.
Burkina Faso: The January 2022 coup saw gunfire erupt in front of the presidential residence in Ouagadougou. President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was detained by soldiers, who then announced on television that he had been deposed. The military dissolved the parliament, government, and constitution. Despite the change, the new junta hasn’t performed any better than the previous government, continuing the suppression of civil liberties and outlawing protests.
Niger: On July 26, 2023, Niger’s government was overthrown, and President Mohamed Bazoum was taken hostage. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued an ultimatum, threatening military intervention if Bazoum wasn’t reinstated. Mali and Burkina Faso warned that an ECOWAS intervention would lead to a military response from them. General Abdourahamane Tiani, the coup leader, proposed a transition period of no more than three years and national dialogue.
However, his justification for the coup – poor economic management – does not hold water, as Niger’s economy had been performing quite well.
The Eternal Cycle
So, here we are, watching another episode of “Who Will Be Our Next Colonial Master?” Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have all the resources, the culture, and the people. Maybe it’s time they wrote their own story, free from external influence. But with power-drunk military governments, respect for rights is a distant dream, and the cycle of coups seems unending.
ECOWAS, the regional bloc, looks on helplessly, like a drenched child unsure of what to do next.
Is Russia Really the Answer?
Dear reader, do you think this alliance with Russia is good? Will these nations ever find stability, or are we doomed to watch the same old power struggles play out again and again?
