Last December, a group of elite special-forces members attempted to overthrow Benin’s elected government. This was just the latest in a spate of African coup attempts, both successful and unsuccessful, in the last half-decade. In West Africa, alone, military juntas have toppled elected governments in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
In a new Journal of Democracy online exclusive, Calin Trenkov-Wermuth and Alexander Noyes argue that U.S. counterterrorism strategy across West Africa is quietly increasing the coup risk and lay out how Washington can better fight terrorism, prevent coups, and protect democratic rule. Read their essay and the Journal’s other recent coverage of the “coup contagion.”
African Coups and the Elite-Forces Trap
U.S. counterterrorism strategy across West Africa is quietly increasing coup risk—here’s how Washington can both better fight terrorism and prevent coups.
Calin Trenkov-Wermuth and Alexander NoyesThe Truth About Africa’s Coups
Many fear that coups are making a comeback. While this is not true, one thing is alarming: Anti-coup norms are starting to erode.
Naunihal SinghThe Myth of the Coup Contagion
Many fear that coups are making a comeback. While this is not true, one thing is alarming: Anti-coup norms are starting to erode.
Naunihal SinghWhy Ghana’s Election Matters Across Africa
The West African democracy is one of the continent’s most enduring, but it shouldn’t be taken for granted. It’s a bulwark for democracy beyond its borders.
John ChinWhat Burkina Faso’s Tragic History Teaches Us
Ten years after the revolution, the lessons for protecting a budding democracy and guarding against violent extremism are clear.
John Chin, Haleigh Bartos, and Aleksaundra HandrinosStanding Up to Africa’s Juntas
A string of Kremlin-backed military coups have brought a collection of juntas to power. The West should resist calls to placate them, and instead stick to its values and push for a return to civilian rule.
Joseph Siegle and Jeffrey SmithWhy Militaries Support Presidential Coups
If you want to understand why generals support a presidential power grab, then you need to understand the logic that motivates them. Why they leave the barracks — and what we must do to get them to stand down.
Sharan Grewal
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