Abstract

A stratocracy is a political system characterized by the predominance of military authority. Recently, three West African military leaders—General Assimi Goita (Mali), Captain Ibrahim Traore (Burkina Faso), and General Abdourahamane Tiani (Niger)—came to power through coups d’état in 2021, 2022, and 2023 respectively. Criticizing their former governments and the regional body ECOWAS of allegedly following the diktats of colonial powers, they formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in September 2023. Yet, the hierarchical structure of the army plays a central role in shaping the political dynamics in the AES, with the military officers having significant power and influence over decision-making and governance. Interestingly, the civil society broadly supports their ideologies through sporadic popular movements against perceived ‘imperialism’ or ‘Western interferences’. The stratocratic approach is perceived by the populace as catalysts for anticolonial liberation. This study explores the intersection of grassroots activism and decolonial theory through the prism of West African stratocracy. Thus, the research emphasizes the dynamics and transformative nature of popular movements in the AES while framing them as a form of active resistance against neocolonialism. Methodologically, this study employs a narrative research design, incorporating primary data from participant observation, discourse analysis, and in-depth interviews.

Keywords: AES, Grassroots revolutions, Neocolonialism, Stratocracy, West Africa