Exploring the Lack of Decolonisation as a Root Cause of Coups d’état in Francophone Africa

Abstract

Are coups the new normal in Africa? A recent surge of coups d’état in Africa has many asking this important question. For now, it seems that most coups are centred in the Sahel region, with a chance of spreading to other African regions. Coups destabilise governance structures and should be understood better. One of the underdeveloped root causes is the phenomenon of decolonisation, which refers to the process by which a state seeks to free itself from its colonial legacy. There is a lack of legal academic studies examining decolonisation and coups in Africa. This article aims to fill this gap. It explores the nexus between colonisation and coups in several Francophone African states, especially due to the recent coups in this region. Employing a TWAIL framework, this study argues that Francophone Africa’s coup epidemic reflects unresolved colonial power structures, challenging conventional narratives centred on governance failures. It is important to examine the lack of decolonisation as a root cause because it will help states to combat coups more productively and efficiently. This article makes a novel contribution to the field of decolonisation and international law. It adds to the current body of literature on coups in Africa and calls on the African Union in particular to better promote decolonisation on the African continent.