Between Imperialism and Military Rule: The Choiceless Political Reality in West Africa

By Chukwuemeka B. Eze and Jeggan Gray Johnson

West Africa stands today at a troubling crossroads where democratic aspirations collide with deep geopolitical tensions, failing institutions, and a new wave of military interventions- raising legitimate questions of the region’s democratic trajectory fifty years after its formation. Have we plateaued or plummeted into the age of the erosion of established normative procedures and democratic institutions, or is the regional experiment in a stage of reflection of deeper, ongoing challenges? Are citizens confronting systems that they perceive as imperial impositions and using whatever means available to them to resist? Or are they facing a crisis of democracy itself, a legitimacy crisis stemming from civil rule that often masks authoritarian tendencies? Why are military coups predominantly re-emerging in Francophone countries? Is this a coincidence, or does it reveal unresolved histories of external influence, entrenched political economies or distinctive patterns of state–society relations in these contexts? In whose name and under whose mandate do political elites continue to hold power? Why are we so quick to dismiss the military as being outside of the political system when, in fact, it is an institution shaped by the same social, economic and political dynamics as the rest of society? To what extent does our discourse artificially separate civilians from soldiers, rather than examining the broader governance ecosystem that produces both?

Citizens increasingly find themselves trapped between three unappealing forces—the entrenched culture of ‘electoral despotism’, external imperial influence and internal military domination. The trilateral dilemma has produced a disturbing condition: a choiceless choice, where none of the options seem incapable of delivering stability, dignity, peace and security or even genuine sovereignty.

The Long Shadow of Imperialism: More than six decades after independence, imperial legacies remain deeply embedded in West Africa’s political and economic structures. Former colonial powers continue to exert influence through aid conditionalities, control of extractive industries, military cooperation agreements, and political alliances that safeguard their strategic interests. In countries like Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Benin, resentment toward external interference; particularly from France has grown into a widespread political sentiment.

Economic dependence, currency constraints (such as the CFA franc), and foreign troops stationed on African soil reinforce the perception that the region’s sovereignty remains compromised. This has created fertile ground for anti-imperialist rhetoric, often championed by populist actors and military juntas who exploit these grievances to gain legitimacy.

The Return of Soldiers to Politics: The last decade has seen a resurgence of military takeovers in the region. Coups in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, representing a largest coup belt in the world, and recently attempted interventions in Benin- a socio-political enigma and Guinea Bissau- the region’s narco-state, reflect a collapse of public trust in democratic systems perceived as kleptocratic, ineffective, and elite-controlled. Many West Africans, frustrated by insecurity, poverty, and government failure, initially welcomed soldiers as “corrective forces.” But military rule often replaces one form of authoritarianism with another and characterised by restricted freedoms, politicized security apparatus, uncertain transition timelines, limited economic vision and opportunity, heavy reliance on foreign military partners (Russia, Turkey, Gulf states) and debt, overshadowed by a youth bulge threatening to burst at the seams. e. Thus, the promise of liberation from imperialism frequently gives way to new dependencies and domestic authoritarianism, and ultimately, policy incoherence, confusion and instability.

The Choiceless Choice: The tragedy is that citizens are forced to choose between very difficult and perhaps inferior alternatives: Imperialism, which undermines sovereignty and reinforces structural inequalities, the electoral despotism- where power remains concentrated within a cabal or small host of elites, and Military rule, which suspends constitutional order and democratic rights. All option addresses the core issues driving instability: weak governance, unemployment, fractured national identities, extremist threats, and the absence of economic diversification. In this vacuum, West Africans face a situation where every available choice feels imposed, not freely made.

The Geopolitical Chessboard: Part of the crisis stems from the region’s growing importance in global geopolitics. West Africa has become a stage for competition among major powers: France and the EU seek to preserve influence, The United States prioritizes counterterrorism, Russia positions itself as an anti-West alternative, China expands via infrastructure loans, and the eventual confiscation of strategic minerals anchored in the blue and green economies, Gulf states and Turkey enter with economic and military interests and the list continues to expand. These competing agendas pull governments in different directions, leaving citizens with little say over the region’s strategic direction.
The Decline of Democratic Credibility: Democracy in West Africa is in crisis not merely because of coups, but because a leadership pandemic. The region has a critical and morally bankrupt leadership. of Manipulated constitutions, electoral fraud, corruption scandals, and impunity have hollowed out institutions. When democratic governments fail to deliver development or justice, the military’s rhetoric of “rescue missions” becomes appealing. Yet these interventions ultimately produce another cycle of disillusionment.

What Real Sovereignty Requires: Breaking this cycle demands a new political imagination—one rooted in African agency, not external dictates or military paternalism. A pathway to genuine sovereignty includes: Strengthening democratic institutions beyond elections, economic independence, especially through value-added industries, regional security cooperation less reliant on external forces, civic education and accountability systems, that are citizenry driven, that restore public trust, as well as a pan-African political consciousness capable of resisting both imperial pressure and internal authoritarianism. The future depends on reclaiming democracy as a tool of liberation, not a façade for elite capture.

Conclusion: West Africa’s tragedy is not that it lacks alternatives, but that the region’s political trajectory has become trapped between two dominant and deeply flawed forces. Imperialism continues to shape its geopolitics and economy, while military rulers exploit public frustration to consolidate power. Together, they create a choiceless political reality where citizens struggle to find a path that protects both sovereignty and freedom. Yet within this crisis lies an opportunity: the chance to articulate a new political vision grounded in bold leadership, accountable governance, and regional solidarity. Reimagining democracy means going beyond periodic elections. It means nurturing institutions that are stronger than individuals and ensuring that power remains accountable to the people. It means prioritizing people’s power over that of statesmen, strengthening judicial independence, fortifying the institutions meant to protect democracy and ensuring that the exercise of power after elections truly serves citizens. Only then can West Africans move beyond the suffocating binary of imperialism and soldiers—and reclaim the right to choose their own future.

Chukwuemeka B. Eze is the Director for Democratic Futures in Africa and Jeggan Grey Johnson, Advocacy Advisor at the Open Society Foundations

Between Imperialism and Military Rule: The Choiceless Political Reality in West Africa

New drug test policy for schools will cut down substance abuse among youth – Marwa

By: Michael Mike

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) has said that the newly launched drug test policy for schools in Nigeria will discourage illicit substances abuse by young Nigerians especially those aspiring for higher education.

Marwa stated this weekend when he received the Vice Chancellor of the Taraba State University, Professor Sunday Bako who led a team of his management staff to seek partnership with the anti-narcotics agency on the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

The NDLEA boss, said: “We’re glad to work and partner with you, your university and the Taraba state government on this matter and it’s a good thing that what you’re doing aligns with the new national policy for tertiary institutions that includes compulsory and random drug integrity tests for students. This initiative is a joint effort between the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to combat substance abuse among young people in schools across the country.

“At the NDLEA, we have been pushing for this and we’re happy we have a dependable partner in the Minister of Education and members of his team who worked with us and supported us on this. This is not in anyway punitive but a strategic push that will largely discourage our youths from going into substance abuse because they know at every stage of their education, they will face compulsory drug test.

“We are fully prepared to work with all schools to ensure the success of this great initiative that will make positive impact on youth development, security and national productivity in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.”

He commended the VC for leading the pack by establishing a full Directorate of Narcotics and Drug Abuse Prohibition in the institution, with a promise to support his efforts through capacity building training and other areas of collaboration.

In his remarks, Bako commended the Marwa leadership of NDLEA for its professionalism, openness and collaborative spirit, which has earned the agency both national and international accolades.

He said: @We are particularly pleased to visit at a time when your excellent and unwavering commitment in the fight against drugs and illicit substances abuse/trafficking earns you another five years of tenure renewal. Your relentless efforts in combatting substance abuse have contributed significantly to protecting our youths and preserving the future of our nation.”

He noted that his visit was borne out of his concern about the challenge of drug and substance abuse among young people, which poses serious threat to academic excellence, moral values, and national development.

The VC said: “This visit seeks to strengthen the relationship between Taraba State University, Jalingo and the National Drug law Enforcement Agency which started way back since 22nd August, 2024 during the inauguration of the Directorate of Narcotics and Drug Abuse Prohibition and the launch of WADA by the NDLEA Taraba state command, as well as the TSU Drug Free Club patrons/officials.

“We firmly believe that effective drug control and prevention require a multi-sectoral approach involving law enforcement agencies, academic institutions, and the wider society.

In this regard, Taraba State University is eager to partner with your agency in areas such as collaborative research on drug abuse and substance use disorder, policy-oriented studies, public enlightenment and sensitization programmes, capacity building training, student internship opportunities, and community outreach initiatives within Taraba state and beyond. Partnership with the NDLEA will further strengthen our institutional policies and programmes in this critical area.”

New drug test policy for schools will cut down substance abuse among youth – Marwa

How killing of 12 Illegal miners in Barkin Ladi, linked to rustling of 171 livestock plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

The recent attack on an illegal mining site in Fann District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, has again exposed the sustained fragility of security and the precarious balance between herders and local communities in the state.

On the night of 16 December 2025, gunmen, reportedly dressed in military attire, stormed a mining site at Tosho Community, rounded up illegal miners, and demanded information about the location of cattle stolen from Nding Community on 10 December. The attack left 12 miners dead, three abducted, and several others injured.

Zagazola Makama report that the attack was retaliatory, linked to the rustling of 171 cattle across Nding and Bakin Kogi communities earlier in the month. The victims, miners who were present at the site despite an extant ban on night mining, were particularly vulnerable due to the clandestine nature of the operations and the delayed reporting of the attack to security forces. Troops of Sector 2 Operation Enduring Peace responded early the following morning, conducting offensive operations to rescue the abducted and secure the area.

However, the Fann District attack represents only the latest episode in a rapidly escalating cycle of reprisal violence across Plateau State. Within days, coordinated assaults on pastoral communities in Barkin Ladi and Jos East LGAs resulted in the rustling of 168 cattle, while nine additional cows reportedly died after grazing on poisoned substances in Kwi village, Riyom LGA. These attacks, illustrated the deepening insecurity that continues to place herders, farmers and other vulnerable communities alike at risk.

In a further escalation, four children were killed in Dorong village, Foron District of Barkin Ladi LGA, allegedly in reprisal for the earlier cattle rustling. Victims included Precious Joshuah, 17; Isa’ac Joshuah, 9; Mary Joshuah, 7; and Eve Sambo, 3. Community sources indicated that the attack occurred amid a climate of fear, with residents warning that reprisals were imminent if no preventive action was taken.

Another disturbing incident in Gero village, Jos South LGA, saw the killing and injury of at least 10 cattle, reportedly by Berom militias targeting Fulani herders. Twelve others were left fatally wounded. Local sources indicated that repeated complaints to authorities regarding such attacks had yielded little response, fostering a perception of selective intervention that largely reacts to incidents affecting one side of the conflict.

Zagazola Makama, have long warned in a series of articles of this predictable pattern: attacks on herders, particularly cattle rustling and livestock poisoning, often trigger retaliatory strikes against innocent civilians, which triggers continued attacks. Despite repeated alerts, the Plateau State government and other concerned authorities have been accused of inaction or selective enforcement, which some residents allege has emboldened criminal actors and state-supported militias.

This growing environment of impunity has left communities vulnerable and created conditions where reprisal attacks are almost inevitable. While the recent attacks are universally condemned, a critical review shows that violence in Plateau often escalates when perpetrators operate with little fear of prosecution or accountability. The complicity of certain local militias and the failure of government to intervene decisively have deepened the cycle, placing innocent civilians including women and children at the highest risk.ll

Zagazola emphasized that unless the Plateau State Government and security agencies implement robust measures to arrest perpetrators on all sides, prosecute offenders, and engage in non-kinetic conflict resolution, the state is likely to witness further retaliatory violence. Immediate steps are required to address both the underlying causes of insecurity and the selective handling of incidents, which currently fuels perceptions of bias and aggravates existing ethno-religious and pastoral-farming tensions.

Without decisive action, Plateau State will continue to experience a self-perpetuating cycle of violence, where acts of aggression against one community invariably provoke retaliatory strikes on another, leaving the most vulnerable particularly children bearing the heaviest burden.

How killing of 12 Illegal miners in Barkin Ladi, linked to rustling of 171 livestock plateau