THE ALLIANCE OF SAHEL STATES: REVOLUTIONARY DEMOCRACY OR DICTATORSHIP?

You’ve probably seen the headlines, ‘Democracy is crumbling in the Sahel.’ But what exactly is democracy, and who gets to define it? In the West, the term refers to participation in an electoral system that brings forward new presidential candidates every several years. However, outside of the occasional election, many citizens are disengaged, having no way to be involved in decision-making processes regarding the economy, foreign policy, domestic security and other concerns.

The Sahel is different. Three countries in this arid region south of the Sahara Desert, known as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, have formed a confederation under the newly established Alliance of Sahel States (AES). They have embarked on an alternative path where they share a common economy and foreign policy. Military leaders govern the three countries, but this is not the repressive, brutal military rule we sometimes see. Instead, this is closer to former Burkina Faso President Thomas Sankara’s (1949-87) style of ‘coup governance,’ which he referred to as a popular and democratic revolution.

African Stream journalist Inemesit Richardson went to all three AES countries to hear directly from the mouths of the people: What is democracy, and are these Sahelian states currently democratic?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.