Ridden with high political tensions and spill out of religious extremism, the Sahel region is fast becoming another Middle East. Life is becoming hellish for millions of Africans and foreign nationals intermingling within that geopolitical space with the security manned to provide all-round protective measures across the region invariably punching below its weight.
Insecurity remains a monstrous giant amidst a multiplicity of problems that have dotted the landscape of the Sahel in recent times. Characterised with a history of political upheavals, it appears to have once again plunged deeper into a new political abyss, with Burkina Faso being the latest hit.
The military sweeping of Roch Marc Christian Kaboré and other top officials from the corridor of power never fell short of receiving global reactions. Outright condemnation against the military junta struck in from all directions.
Coup mastermind Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba overran Ouagadougou, the Burkinabe state capital in a seamless fashion.
In the very nature of the military, the guiding set of principles governing the West African state was kicked aside and arms of government dissolved. At the close of January, the restoration of the constitution took effect and Damiba was appointed as interim president.
The chants of joy and happiness over the recent development by the citizenry underscore the fact that a larger chunk of the populace is disillusioned with the Kabore-led government. But why?
Recall the Arab Spring of 2011, a wave of uprising across the Middle East and North Africa never went down without its consequences. The disintegration of Libya following the demise of Muammar Gaddafi spurred violent religious extremism in the Sahel. Mali being the epicentre of insurgent movements ever since.
From within the Malian state, the proliferation of extremist groups took a more radical course, snowballing to Burkina Faso and other Sahelian states in a flash.
The heat of insurgency caught Burkina Faso off guard in 2015. Attacks by armed groups intensified mortality and millions were displaced.
The newly-elected government of Kaboré was helpless about the wanton loss of lives arising from extremist attacks. He proved indecisive to the plight of millions of Burkinabes upon his emergence as president in 2015.
Military intervention in the politics of Burkina Faso at this moment is seen by many as a welcome development. Coup d’état turned ‘Coup de grace’.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under the chairmanship of Nana Akufo-Addo, its vocality against coup plotters and ultimately giving Burkina Faso some time off the sub-regional body will definitely fall short of standards.
Guinea and Mali, two Sahelian states where the military is waxing strong defy ECOWAS sanctions. Burkina Faso will be no different. Sanctions heaped will only be paper implemented!
A strong footing by the continental body, the African Union towards the restoration of democracy and chiefly showing Burkina Faso a temporary exit off the Union though reads great, will further deepen the crises across the Sahel. The state of Burkina Faso is geographically landlocked. Economic survival will become unbearable.
A veritable tool to bringing all parties to a logical consensus and restoring Burkina Faso and other Sahelian states on a path of democracy lies in the instrumentality of diplomacy. As it stands the future of democracy is at stake not only in Burkina Faso but also in other countries across the continent. Politicisation of the military is fast becoming the order of the day.
In the space of 14 months, the continent has been rattled by five coups. The French-speaking African countries are at the receiving end and bear the greater brunt. Democratic principles are coming under huge threat.
The rise of the military to the echelon of power is fast becoming alarming. The democratic drive of Guinea-Bissau is still on the course after an attempted coup was thwarted a few days back. This copy-cat coup trend taking place across the West African sub-region calls for concern.
Another impending coup may be hanging around the corner. Who knows?
In Sudan, thousands of Sudanese are now back in the streets of Khartoum to clamour for a reinstitution of democracy following the October coup that swept off Abdalla Hamdok, the then Prime Minister. The public outcry against General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is getting more radical despite the stiff clampdown by the military.
At best the United Nations and other global state actors can only express concern on recent trends across the continent. Global players are all out to pursue their national interests.
High-level talks need to be initiated by Africans for Africa, to place the continent on the right path of political transition and stability.