Military coups in Burkina Faso 1966 – 2022

Abstract

          The phenomenon of military coups is not new to African countries, which have a long history of coups since gaining independence from Western colonialism in the 1960s. The non-peaceful transfer of power through military coups remained the most widespread method in the countries of the continent throughout the Cold War period. With the end of the Cold War and the victory of the Western camp led by the United States and the collapse of the Soviet Union, military regimes and governments in Africa lost an important source of support, and US support for these regimes became conditional on their commitment to democratic transition, multiparty politics, and the peaceful transfer of power through free and fair elections. This was clearly reflected in the process of power transfer in many African countries. Although the wave of military coups has largely subsided, especially since the establishment of the African Union and its refusal to recognize governments that come to power through unconstitutional means, However, anyone observing the events in African countries over the past two years will easily realize that there has been a resurgence of military coups in various countries and regions of the continent, prompting many researchers to question the feasibility of democratic transition in Africa, while others have been prompted to reassess the outcomes of the democratic transition experience in Africa.                                                                              

        Burkina Faso has not witnessed a peaceful transfer of political power despite its independence since 1960, having experienced  military Eight coups.  allowing the army to take control. The most notable of these coups were the coup led by Major Thomas Sankara on August 4, 1983, the coup led by Major Blaise Compaoré on October 15, 1987,  and the most recent one by Captain Ibrahim Traoré on September 30, 2022.                                                                                              

         The research is divided into an introduction, a conclusion, and five sections. The first section covers internal political and military developments from 1960 to 1983, focusing on the first national government from 1960 to 1966, the first military regime of Sengoli Lamizana from 1966 to 1980, the second military rule of Colonel Saye Zerbo from 1980 to 1982, and the third military rule of Major Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo from 1982 to 1987. The second section covers the fourth military rule of Major Thomas Sankara from 1983 to 1987, and the third section covers The fifth military regime of Major Blaise Compaoré, 1987–2014; the fourth axis:  The 2015 presidential elections; and finally, the fifth axis: The sixth military regime, Jaberet Dendere, on September 16, 2015, Finally, the sixth axis: The sixth military rule of Captain Ibrahim Traore 2022.