Abstract

This background paper, jointly produced by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) and L'Observatoire Ivoirien des Droits de l’Homme (OIDH), offers a critical examination of the rise of military populism in Francophone West Africa.

Amid a resurgence of military coups in the region, most notably in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Gabon, this report explores how military regimes are no longer relying solely on brute force or silence. Instead, they are increasingly deploying populist rhetoric, digital propaganda, and anti-imperialist narratives to consolidate power, delay democratic transitions, and manufacture public consent.

Grounded in historical context, the paper traces the colonial legacies of militarism and the ideological patterns that sustain the image of the military as national saviour. It unpacks the discursive strategies used by contemporary juntas to position themselves as legitimate defenders of sovereignty, often at the expense of constitutional order and civic freedoms.

Drawing on a multidisciplinary approach, including discourse analysis, social media monitoring, and field interviews, the paper outlines how military populists weaponise platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok, and Telegram to control narratives, suppress dissent, and build cross-border echo chambers. It also introduces the ABCD framework (Actor, Behaviour, Content, Degree) for analysing the structure and impact of online propaganda campaigns.

This publication is the first in an 8-month research series focused on tracking and understanding the digital and ideological dimensions of military populism in both Francophone and Anglophone West Africa. It provides an essential foundation for policymakers, civil society actors, and international partners seeking to confront the region’s shifting political landscape and the erosion of democratic norms.