Military coups in west africa deepen repression and undermine democracy

escalating repression by military juntas in west africa and the Sahel

In 2025, West African nations grappled with a surge in repression as military juntas tightened their grip on power, undermining democratic processes and silencing dissent. This trend, highlighted in recent reports, reveals a disturbing pattern of authoritarian consolidation across the region.

Reports from human rights organizations underscore the growing threats to civil liberties in countries like Nigeria and the Sahel, where both extremist groups and government forces continue to target civilians and critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, military juntas in the Sahel have systematically dismantled regional and international oversight bodies, eroding accountability mechanisms for human rights abuses.

«Military leaders in the Sahel region have escalated crackdowns on free expression and other fundamental freedoms, betraying promises of democratic transition,» said Mausi Segun, Africa director at the organization. «Urgent, coordinated regional action is essential to reopen political space, restore democratic norms, and safeguard the rights of citizens across West Africa.»

key developments in repression and democratic backsliding

The latest findings reveal a troubling landscape of authoritarian tactics employed by ruling juntas and extremist factions:

• Extended transition timelines and banned multiparty systems: Niger and Mali extended their democratic transition periods by five years while banning multiparty politics. Chad abolished presidential term limits entirely.
• Crackdowns on dissent and media freedom: In Burkina Faso and Mali, journalists, activists, and critics faced arbitrary detention, forced disappearances, and illegal conscription. Political opponents in Niger and Chad faced politically motivated prosecutions, including a 20-year sentence for opposition leader Succès Masra in Chad. Nigeria intensified arrests of journalists and social media users under sweeping cybercrime laws.
• Islamist violence and state-led atrocities: Islamist groups like the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM) and the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) carried out massacres in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Government forces in Burkina Faso and Mali, alongside pro-government militias and Russia-backed Africa Corps (formerly Wagner Group), executed civilians from the Fulani ethnic group.
• Resurgence of Boko Haram and banditry in Nigeria: Deadly attacks in Borno State signaled a revival of Boko Haram’s faction, while northwest Nigeria grappled with rampant violence from armed gangs, including kidnappings and raids, amid government failures to protect communities or hold perpetrators accountable.
• Withdrawal from regional justice systems: Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso finalized their exit from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and announced plans to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), severely undermining access to justice for victims of abuses.

regional bodies urged to act

Human rights advocates are calling on the African Union and other regional and international organizations to intensify efforts to protect civilians and uphold human rights standards. The erosion of democratic institutions and the rise of unchecked authoritarianism threaten to destabilize the region further, with long-term consequences for peace and stability.