Reasons for Military Coups in Africa

Military coups are on the rise in Africa, with countries like Niger, Gabon, Mali, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Guinea, and Chad experiencing coups in the past three years. The reasons for these coups can be categorized into three main factors. First, there is a crisis of legitimacy, as elections alone no longer guarantee leaders' credibility in several countries, such as Gabon and Guinea. Second, the failure to effectively address jihadist movements and the resulting frustration among both the military and civilians have led to coups in Burkina Faso and Mali. Finally, issues of corruption, misuse of resources, and abusive power have fueled discontent in countries like Mali, but Niger presents a different scenario, where reforming the security sector and power dynamics have contributed to instability.