Transition now? Another coup d’état in Burkina Faso

SUMMARY

The briefing explores the dynamics underpinning the coup d’état in Burkina Faso that took place on 24 to 25 January 2022. It does so by discussing the putschists’ justification to fight threats by non-state armed groups and situates the coup in the history of Burkina Faso. Since formal independence the country has been characterised by strikes, military coups and constitutional referendums. In contrast to 2015, however, when broad popular resistance forced a group of military putschists out of office after only a few days, the trade unions and mass organisations this time do not mobilise active resistance, though in principle they oppose military coups. The briefing raises questions regarding whether the ‘transition phase’ will deliver any substantial change, what might be seen as legitimate forms of regime change, and what the character of political authority is in Burkina Faso, how it might be delivered and by whom.

KEYWORDS:

• Coup d’état
• regime change
• political transition
• military
• Burkina Faso
• Africa

Acknowledgements

This briefing is based on sources from the Burkinabé and international press, social media (Facebook and Twitter), academic literature and, most importantly, talking with civil society activists in Ouagadougou in February 2022. Talks were informal; I prefer not to cite and reference them. I am very thankful to all those who shared their views, experiences and information with me. Presented here is my perspective and interpretation of what people shared with me, and of course all errors are mine. Many thanks to Ray Bush, Clare Smedley and Leo Zeilig for their patience and support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bettina Engels

Bettina Engels teaches political science focusing on conflict and African Studies at the Department of Political and Social Sciences at Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. She is an editor of the Review of African Political Economy. Her research and teaching focuses on International Political Economy in Africa, agrarian change, social transformation, contentious politics and social movements.