Abstract
The threat of military coups and illegitimate power grabs is once again rearing its ugly head in African political space. In West and Central African sub-regions including Mali, Chad, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, and Sudan, there have been both successful and unsuccessful coups d'état since 2020 to 2022. Recent coups on the continent have triggered a host of concerns, including if we are witnessing a resurgence of coups. In some African countries, understanding and practicing democracy in different ways according to the preferences of politicians and the ruling elite has led to widespread unhappiness. International and regional organisations, such as the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the United Nations (UN) have been unable to stop the wave of military coups in the region despite imposing sanctions, suspending memberships, and condemning this worrying trend. What explains the coups, and how do we interpret their perceived public support? Why has unconstitutional change of government become an aberration in African legislative principles on democracy and governance? Through qualitative literature review and thematic content analysis, this study investigates the root causes of the resurgence of coups on the continent. The study concludes by providing some insights on how to prevent the menace of coups on the continent.