From hope to repression: how military juntas in the Sahel are tightening their grip

Across Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, a wave of repression is sweeping through nations once hailed as symbols of democratic hope. Arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, and a systematic crackdown on press freedom and civil society—these are the tactics now employed by military regimes struggling to maintain their faltering legitimacy. For human rights defenders and independent journalists, the climate has never been more dangerous.

Security failures fuel authoritarian backlash

A stark contrast marks the current reality in these countries. While the juntas initially justified their coups by citing worsening security crises, the situation has only deteriorated under their watch. Attacks on civilian targets have grown in frequency and brutality. Take the recent assault on Mansila, for instance—a deadly strike that left nearly a hundred people dead on June 11. Reports indicate that military convoys are now required to reach the besieged town, as communication networks have been severed and local actors remain unreachable.

broken promises and deepening crises

Alioune Tine, president of Afrikajom Center and a prominent human rights advocate, paints a grim picture of the current state of affairs. ‘When Captain Ibrahim Traoré first took power, he vowed to quickly restore civilian rule and hold elections within a reasonable timeframe,’ Tine recalls. ‘Yet today, not only has no election been organized, but the regime has embraced repression as its primary survival strategy.’

Tine highlights the alarming trend of targeting specific communities, particularly the Fulani people, whom he describes as victims of a ‘massacre’ orchestrated by the authorities. ‘The situation is not just worrying—it is dire. These regimes came to power promising to restore dignity and security, but instead, they have plunged their nations into greater chaos.’

Ouagadougou in turmoil: accusations of mutiny and state-sponsored chaos

The tension reached a new peak on June 12 when a mortar shell landed in the courtyard of the national broadcaster RTB, injuring several people. The incident sparked widespread speculation about internal military dissent, with whispers of mutiny and even coup attempts circulating in Ouagadougou. In response, Ibrahim Traoré dismissed the rumors as ‘pure fiction’ and accused ‘enemy media’ of spreading disinformation. ‘If the position were vacant,’ he declared, ‘anyone could take it—so why hasn’t anyone acted?’

Meanwhile, reports from the front lines suggest a heavy human toll. Hundreds of soldiers have reportedly been killed in recent months, while morale within the ranks remains fragile. The junta’s reliance on forced conscription—including elderly civilians—has further eroded trust and fueled resentment.

International condemnation and the shadow of external alliances

Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and the Senegalese Coalition of Human Rights Defenders have condemned the escalating abuses. Their call for a peaceful protest against the suppression of press freedom and civil liberties underscores the urgency of the crisis. Among the detained is prominent lawyer Guy Hervé Ham, imprisoned since January 24—a symbol of the regime’s crackdown on dissent.

Tine also warns of the dangerous alliances these juntas are forging. ‘By aligning themselves with regimes that show little regard for human rights—such as Russia—these military governments are undermining regional stability,’ he states. ‘The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is now fractured between pro-Western and pro-Russian factions, weakening any hope for unified action.’

He adds, ‘The departure of French military bases was meant to symbolize sovereignty, but without viable alternatives, the result has been a dangerous vacuum. This is not progress—it is a recipe for further instability.’

a regional pattern of failure

What began as a wave of popular uprisings against corrupt civilian governments has spiraled into a cycle of repression and ineptitude. In Mali, despite limited gains in controlling northern territories, the socio-economic crisis continues unabated. ‘There is a clear failure,’ Tine asserts. ‘These juntas have not only lost legitimacy but have also failed to address the suffering of their people. In Mali, opposition figures in exile have even formed their own government—a desperate attempt to fill the void.’

The message is clear: military rule, once seen as a path to salvation, has become a vehicle for oppression. As these regimes cling to power through fear and force, the people of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are paying the price with their freedoms—and, too often, their lives.