Maggie Dwyer

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Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Damiba is sworn in as head of state in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Feb. 16. (EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

MundoÁfrica

In many ways, the recent spate of coups and coup attempts in Africa feels like a flashback to earlier periods in the continent’s history. With 11 coup attempts since 2019, coups appear to be on the rise after steadily declining, raising concerns about a return to military rule.

Recent coups, like the one in Burkina Faso, followed a familiar pattern — coup leaders suspended the constitution, closed borders, revealed the acronym of the new junta and promised their rule will be more aligned with the interests of “the people.”

But this recent wave of coups is distinct in a number of key ways.…  Seguir leyendo »

Demonstrators in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, hold a picture of Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Damiba, the leader of the recent mutiny by the armed forces. (Olympia De Maismont/AFP/Getty Images)

MundoÁfrica,

On Monday evening, the people of Burkina Faso were met with what has become a telltale sign of a coup — a group of soldiers in fatigues appearing on the national television station. By this point the statement of a military takeover by a group calling itself the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR) did not come as a surprise to most, given the significant signs of military unrest in the previous 36 hours.

Burkina Faso has one of the highest coup and mutiny rates on the continent, giving many citizens a sense of deja vu this week. The revolt came in the midst of the country’s struggle to combat attacks by Islamist armed groups.…  Seguir leyendo »

Soldiers involved in a mutiny on a street in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Jan 7. The mutiny of soldiers began a day earlier in the interior city of Bouake. (Legnan Koula/EPA)

MundoÁfrica,

Over the weekend, Ivory Coast saw a standoff between soldiers and the Ministry of Defense. On Jan. 6, disgruntled soldiers took control of the country’s second largest city, Bouaké. They demanded payment of bonuses, promotions and better living conditions. Many of the mutineers were former rebel fighters, from Ivory Coast’s civil war, which ended in 2011.

Tensions escalated as the mutiny spread to five other locations, including Ivory Coast’s commercial center, Abidjan. The defense minister, Alain-Richard Donwahi, negotiated with the soldiers on the evening of Jan. 7 and reached a deal to end the mutiny.

But confusion ensued when soldiers opened fire outside the house where Donwahi, local officials and journalists had conducted the negotiations.…  Seguir leyendo »