Across West Africa and the Sahel in 2025, military-led governments have escalated their crackdown on civil liberties while consolidating power, according to the latest findings from regional and international monitors.
escalating authoritarianism in west africa’s Sahel
In 2025, military juntas in the Sahel—including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—have doubled down on repressive tactics while sidelining democratic institutions. Islamist armed groups, government forces, and allied militias continue to target civilians and civilian infrastructure across the region.
Human rights leaders warn that these juntas are systematically dismantling accountability mechanisms, silencing dissent, and delaying promised democratic transitions. “Military leaders in the Sahel are increasingly suppressing free speech and political participation with little regard for their commitments to democratic governance,” stated a regional advocacy director. “Regional bodies must take urgent action to restore political space and protect citizens’ fundamental rights.”
key trends in repression and instability
- Delayed democratization: Authorities in Niger and Mali have extended their transitional periods by five years and banned multi-party systems. Chad has removed presidential term limits entirely, further entrenching one-party rule.
- Crackdown on dissent: In Burkina Faso and Mali, journalists, activists, and critics of the juntas face arbitrary detention, forced disappearances, or illegal conscription. Nigeria has intensified arrests of journalists and social media users under cybercrime laws, while opposition figures in Niger and Chad face politically motivated prosecutions.
- Islamist violence: The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) have carried out deadly attacks on civilians in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Government forces—including pro-regime militias and Russian-backed Wagner (now rebranded as Africa Corps)—have also been implicated in extrajudicial killings, particularly targeting the Fulani ethnic group.
- Regional withdrawal: Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have formally exited the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), undermining justice for victims of abuses.
- Boko Haram resurgence: In Nigeria, the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad faction of Boko Haram has intensified attacks in Borno State, while criminal gangs in the northwest continue to perpetrate violence with impunity.
call for regional accountability
Advocacy groups emphasize that the African Union and other regional bodies must intervene to protect civilians and uphold human rights standards. The erosion of democratic norms and the rise of authoritarianism in the Sahel pose a growing threat to stability and security across West Africa.