International Authoritarian Politics and Democratic Breakdown in the African Sahel Region

This chapter examines the international dimensions of authoritarian politics in the African Sahel region. It discusses the neocolonial ties and international collaborations of autocratic regimes. Despite the democratic transitions in the late 1990s and the first decade of the twenty-first century, the partial adoption of democracy by the African states of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger has culminated in military rule. Drawing on recent news and reports among others, and considering the ideas of liberalism and neocolonialism, we explore the persistence of authoritarian regimes in the context of international support and collaboration. The chapter concludes by reflecting on the role of great powers such as China and Russia in consolidating authoritarianism in Africa. We argue that such an understanding will, among other things, help in augmenting resistance towards autocratic regimes and cement the gains of democracy.