Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Daniel Eizenga
Africa: As Security Deteriorates, Sahelian Juntas Further Stifle Civilians
As militant Islamist insurgencies make unprecedented gains across the Sahel, military junta leaders have focused on restricting independent voices instead of adapting security strategies. Since Mali's military coup in 2020, the Sahel has become the deadliest theater of militant Islamist violence in Africa.
As Security Deteriorates, Sahelian Juntas Further Stifle Civilians
As militant Islamist insurgencies make unprecedented gains across the Sahel, military junta leaders have focused on restricting independent voices instead of adapting security strategies. JNIM spokesperson Bina Diarra addresses fighters in a propaganda video. (Image: screengrab) Since Mali’s military coup in 2020, the Sahel has become the deadliest theater of militant Islamist violence in Africa.
West Africa: JNIM Attacks in Western Mali Reshape Sahel Conflict
By attacking transportation arteries, fuel tankers, and population centers in western Mali, the JNIM coalition is targeting the economic, security, and political vulnerabilities of the military junta in Bamako. The Maçina Liberation Front (FLM) launched a series of seven simultaneous attacks spanning hundreds of kilometers in western Mali in border towns near Senegal and Mauritania on July 1, 2025.
JNIM Attacks in Western Mali Reshape Sahel Conflict – Africa Center
(Click here for printable PDF version.) The Maçina Liberation Front (FLM) launched a series of seven simultaneous attacks spanning hundreds of kilometers in western Mali in border towns near Senegal and Mauritania on July 1, 2025. This represented a dramatic shift in tactics and an expansion in the reach of the Jama’at Nasrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) coalition of which FLM is the most active member.
Qui est Ibrahim Traoré du Burkina Faso, le capitaine qui fait des vagues en Afrique de l'Ouest?
Le capitaine Ibrahim Traoré est l'actuel dirigeant de la transition du Burkina Faso. Il a pris le pouvoir après avoir renversé par un coup d'État le lieutenant-colonel Paul Henri Damiba en septembre 2022. Le capitaine, âgé de 37 ans, avait soutenu Damiba, son commandant, lors d’un putsch contre l’ex-président Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. Depuis que Traoré est au pouvoir, le Burkina Faso a joué un rôle clé dans le retrait de trois États d'Afrique de l'Ouest de l'organisme régional, la Cedeao.
Qui est Ibrahim Traoré du Burkina Faso, le capitaine burkinabè qui fait des vagues en Afrique de l'Ouest?
Le capitaine Ibrahim Traoré est l'actuel dirigeant de la transition du Burkina Faso. Il a pris le pouvoir après avoir renversé par un coup d'État le lieutenant-colonel Paul Henri Damiba en septembre 2022. Le capitaine, âgé de 37 ans, avait soutenu Damiba, son commandant, lors d’un putsch contre l’ex-président Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. Depuis que Traoré est au pouvoir, le Burkina Faso a joué un rôle clé dans le retrait de trois États d'Afrique de l'Ouest de l'organisme régional, la Cedeao.
Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré is making waves in west Africa. Who is he?
By Daniel Eizenga, Research Fellow, Africa Center for Strategic Studies Captain Ibrahim Traoré is the interim leader of Burkina Faso, having taken over the position following a coup which he led against Lieutenant Colonel Paul Henri Damiba in September 2022. The 37-year-old captain had supported Damiba, his commanding officer, in a putsch earlier that year against former president Roch Marc Kaboré. Since… Read complete article © The Conversation -
Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré is making waves in west Africa. Who is he?
Captain Ibrahim Traoré is the interim leader of Burkina Faso, having taken over the position following a coup which he led against Lieutenant Colonel Paul Henri Damiba in September 2022. The 37-year-old captain had supported Damiba, his commanding officer, in a putsch earlier that year against former president Roch Marc Kaboré. Since Traoré has been in power, Burkina Faso has played a key role in the withdrawal of three west African states from the regional body Ecowas.
As Security Crisis Deepens, Burkina Faso’s Junta Turns to Repression
In early June, an attack on a military base near Mansila, in eastern Burkina Faso, reportedly resulted in the death of more than 100 soldiers. As rumors of a mutiny spread, Capt. Ibrahim Traore, the leader of the country’s military junta, disappeared from public view, presumably whisked away by his security team. Traore reappeared several days later, surrounded by loyalists, and denied the rumors. But his caution is understandable.
Recalibrating Coastal West Africa’s Response to Violent Extremism – Africa Center
Download this Brief as a PDF: English | Français | Português Coastal West African countries can strengthen resiliency to the threat of violent extremism by enhancing a multilayered response addressing local, national, and regional priorities. Extremist violence in the Sahel is spilling over into coastal West African countries.
Wagner’s war on civillians
The Sahel region is facing a series of crises, and the rest of the world seems unaware. In addition to the ecological dimension, which includes advancing desertification and climate catastrophes, the region is experiencing political instability with successive military coups, notably in Mali (2020 and 2021), Burkina Faso (2022), and Niger (2023).
Chad's Constitutional Referendum Promises a Transition without Change - Or Stability
The highly controlled constitutional referendum organized by Mahamat Déby’s military junta appears intended to provide a degree of credibility to the military’s plans to hold power indefinitely.
Chad’s Constitutional Referendum Promises a Transition without Change—or Stability - Chad
Attachments Download Report (PDF | 2.93 MB) By Daniel Eizenga and Katie Nodjimbadem The highly controlled constitutional referendum organized by Mahamat Déby’s military junta appears intended to provide a degree of credibility to the military’s plans to hold power indefinitely.
Africa's Crisis of Coups | Topic in Focus – Africa Center
Africa’s spate of military coups is a direct challenge to civilian led democratic governance. Building on long legacies of military government, the coups reflect African militaries’ attempt to reassert their perceived entitlement to rule. Infographic Militant Islamist Groups Advancing in Mali The recent militant Islamist attack in Bamako is part of a broader push by violent extremist groups into southern Mali and reflective of the deteriorating security in Mali under military rule.
La « transition » orchestrée par le gouvernement militaire tchadien dérape – Centre d’Études Stratégiques de l’Afrique
La répression violente de l’opposition pacifique au Tchad met en évidence l’intimidation coercitive qui sous-tend le refus de la junte militaire de faciliter une véritable transition démocratique. Les forces de sécurité ont ouvert le feu et tué des dizaines de manifestants au Tchad lors des manifestations du 20 octobre contre le refus de la junte militaire d’honorer son calendrier de transition de 18 mois.
“Transition” orchestrated by Chad’s military government goes awry
The violent crackdown on the peaceful opposition in Chad exposes the coercive intimidation behind the military junta’s unwillingness to facilitate a genuine democratic transition. Security forces opened fire and killed dozens of protesters in Chad during the October 20 demonstrations against the military junta’s refusal to honor its 18-month transition timeframe. At least 50 people were killed, though opposition leaders claim the death toll was more than 100.
Environment and Security | Topic in Focus – Africa Center for Strategic Studies
Africa is projected to suffer the greatest near-term effects of global warming of any region in the world, despite having contributed the least carbon emissions. Climate change will impact the viability of Africa’s arable land, power sources, and coastal cities, leading to rapidly escalating resource pressures as the continent’s population doubles by 2050.
Another coup in Burkina
On September 30, a military coup overthrew the transitional government in Burkina Faso. This coup was the second in eight months, and among 10 staged in the six decades since independence from France. The first coup of 2022 occured on January 24, when Lieutenant-Colonel Henri Sandaogo Damiba overthrew President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, the first elected civilian president of the country.
Obviously, this is not working
LO Yes. In 2014, the Burkinabe and the majority went to the streets, organized under the leadership of some civil society organizations such as Balai Citoyen, in the fight against Blaise Compaoré, who was the then-27-year president of the country. Blaise Compaoré also came to power back in 1987 after killing the revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara. So after 27 years of rule, Blaise Compaoré was on the brink of revising the constitution and running for an unlimited number of times.
Another coup has been averted in Burkina Faso: but for how long? Original
Within a few weeks of the start of a new year and West Africa had its first attempted coup d’état. On January 12 the Burkinabè government announced that it foiled a plot from within the armed forces to destabilise the state. At a press conference, Minister of Defence, General Aimé Barthélemy Simporé, announced that 10 soldiers and 5 civilians had been arrested in connection with the plot. They will be tried by military tribunal.
A Crucial Moment in Chad’s Transition – Africa Center for Strategic Studies
Chad's national dialogue will not achieve stability or peace as long as those who support civilian rule and civilian transition continue to be excluded from the transition.
Chad’s ‘Political Transition’ Is a Smokescreen for Military Rule
The death of Chadian President Idriss Deby in April ended his three-decade rule and plunged the Central African country into uncertainty. Officially, Deby succumbed to wounds sustained on the frontlines of battle with a rebel group called the Front for Change and Concord in Chad, known by its French acronym FACT.
Guinée: Coup d'État - Comment Faire Marche-Arrière
La résurgence des militaires en quête de pouvoir en Afrique de l'Ouest menace les progrès difficilement acquis dans la région depuis le début des années 1990. Le coup d'État militaire en Guinée est le troisième dans la région en un an. Récemment, 14 des 15 membres de la Communauté économique des États d'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEDEAO) ont suivi une tendance démocratique démocratique, selon les données de Freedom House et du Center for Systemic Peace.
West Africa: Russia's Wagner Play Undermines the Transition in Mali
Washington, DC — Reports that Mali’s military junta has negotiated a prospective deal to bring in 1,000 Russian mercenaries from the notorious Wagner Group are anything but surprising. Russia has been trying to expand its influence in Mali for the past several years. Disinformation campaigns first seen in 2019 were instrumental in stirring up the protests that toppled democratically elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in August 2020.
Coup d’État en Guinée: Comment faire marche-arrière
La résurgence des militaires en quête de pouvoir en Afrique de l’Ouest menace les progrès difficilement acquis dans la région depuis le début des années 1990. Le coup d’État militaire en Guinée est le troisième dans la région en un an. Récemment, 14 des 15 membres de la Communauté économique des États d’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO) ont suivi une tendance démocratique démocratique, selon les données de Freedom House et du Center for Systemic Peace.
Coup in Guinea: How to reverse it
LISTEN 55 MINUTES AGO Colonel Mamady Doumbouya (c) anointed himself as the leader of Guinea after overthrowing Alpha Conde - Source: JOHN WESSELS / AFP via Getty Images The resurgence of the military in search of power in West Africa threatens the hard-won progress in the region since the early 1990s. The military coup in Guinea is the third in the region in a year.
West Africa: Guinea Coup Has Left West Africa's Regional Body With Limited Options. but There Are Some
The resurgence of power-seeking militaries in west Africa poses a serious threat to the hard-earned democratic progress made in the region since the early 1990s. The recent military coup in Guinea was the third in the region in a year. Just a few years ago, 14 of the 15 members of the Economic Community of West Africa States (Ecowas) were democratic leaning, according to data from Freedom House and the Center for Systemic Peace.
Walking Back the Coup in Guinea – Africa Center for Strategic Studies
Recognition of the coup in Guinea would incentivize future military interventions. Yet, simply reinstating President Alpha Condé would not restore democracy. Several possible paths could be followed to return Guinea to constitutional order. The resurgence of power-seeking militaries in West Africa poses a serious threat to the hard-earned democratic progress made in the region since the early 1990s. The recent military coup in Guinea was the third in the region in a year.
Guinea coup has left west Africa's regional body with limited options. But there are some
The resurgence of power-seeking militaries in west Africa poses a serious threat to the hard-earned democratic progress made in the region since the early 1990s. The recent military coup in Guinea was the third in the region in a year. Just a few years ago, 14 of the 15 members of the Economic Community of West Africa States (Ecowas) were democratic leaning, according to data from Freedom House and the Center for Systemic Peace.
Chad’s military leaders seem determined to keep power centralized under military control.
In April, Gen. Azem Bermendao Agouna announced that Chadian President Idriss Déby had died on the battlefield fighting rebels. During the same broadcast, Agouna declared the establishment of a transitional military council, and dissolved the executive and legislature, replacing the constitution with a transitional charter. In effect, analysts including myself argue, he announced a military coup. Idriss Déby’s son, Gen.
Chad’s Ongoing Instability, the Legacy of Idriss Déby – Africa Center for Strategic Studies
Spotlight Idriss Déby’s death is an outcome of the ongoing instability perpetuated by his regime. The subsequent military coup d’état led by the late president’s son risks deepening political violence in this geographically strategic country. Chadian security forces confront protesters on the streets of N’Djamena.
Five key insights into Déby's leadership that point to where Chad may be heading
Chadian President Idriss Déby died in mid-April after more than three decades in power. The army announced that the 68-year-old leader died from injuries inflicted on the battlefield during clashes with rebels in the north of the country. Subsequent to his death, a military junta led by his son, Mahamat Idriss Déby, executed a military coup d’état dissolving the country’s political institutions and constitution. Rebellions and instability are far from being without precedent in Chad.
The Puzzle of JNIM and Militant Islamist Groups in the Sahel – Africa Center for Strategic Studies
Download this Brief as a PDF: English Composed of distinct operational entities, the militant Islamist group coalition Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen serves the role of obscuring the operations of its component parts in the Sahel, thereby inhibiting a more robust response. Djenné, Mali.
Mali coup offers lessons in democracy building - but junta must go
In defiance of a Sept. 15 deadline to step aside for a civilian transitional government set by the West Africa regional body, ECOWAS, Mali’s coup leaders have proposed a plan that would keep the military in charge. A convenient provision of the plan is that leaders of the Aug. 18 coup would be granted judicial immunity. In effect, the mid-level officers who committed treason by deposing a democratically-elected government have appointed themselves as the guardians of a return to democracy.
Mali: Beware the 'Popular' Coup
Washington, DC — Thousands of cheering Malians came out onto the streets to show their support for the August 18 military coup against democratically-elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Reports of the event point to this support as popular validation of the coup and the need for regional mediators to find common ground with the coup leaders in ongoing negotiations. This reasoning is problematic for many reasons. First, a coup is a coup.
Mali: Beware the ‘Popular’ Coup – Africa Center
Rationalizing a coup because people are in the streets overlooks the reality that nearly every coup is greeted enthusiastically by some. ‘Popular support’ for the coup in Mali has masked a politicized military, opportunistic opposition figures, and Russian meddling. Thousands of cheering Malians came out onto the streets to show their support for the August 18 military coup against democratically-elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
Oumar Ba
Maimouna Thior Adama Pouye Islam is interpreted to establish the dominance of men, and this male supremacy is at the root of all our problems. Jessica Moody Au crépuscule du règne de Ouattara en Côte d’Ivoire. Vincent Foucher The French philosopher and TV personality favors spectacle over analysis. The result: we don’t make sense of political violence in Nigeria. Africa is a Country Postulez maintenant pour devenir membre de l’Africa Is a Country. Lisez ici pour plus de détails.
Chad and the Escalating Fight against Boko Haram – Africa Center
Spotlight A rise in Boko Haram and ISWA attacks in Chad has been met with a military surge to clear the area. Enduring success will require a sustained presence and an intensified regional commitment. Chadian soldiers in Bosso, Niger. (Photo: VOA/Nicolas Pinault) On March 23, Boko Haram militants staged a complex attack on Chadian troops stationed at a base in Bohoma. The attack lasted for 7 hours and ultimately left 98 Chadian soldiers dead and dozens more wounded.
Region in Focus: The Sahel – Africa Center for Strategic Studies
The Sahel has seen the most rapid growth in violent extremist activity of any region in Africa over the past two years. The region is also a nexus of criminal networks and illicit trafficking and has experienced a rise in farmer-herder violence. The Sahel, moreover, has the fastest population growth rate on the continent, despite being among the poorest and facing some of the most fragile environmental conditions.
Chad - Expert Briefing
Chad has suffered from political violence and instability since independence from France in 1960. During the 1960s numerous rebel groups in the northern regions joined together to create the Front de Libération Nationale du Tchad (FROLINAT). The creation of FROLINAT marked the beginning of a civil war which lasted nearly thirty years. During that time, Chad experienced a series of military coups and rebel takeovers.
Taking stock of Burkina Faso’s democracy after al-Qaeda attack
Last week, Burkina Faso seemed a bright spot in the troubled Sahel region of Africa. Little known and rarely discussed, the country found its way into international headlines after a dramatic popular uprising in October 2014 put an end to President Blaise Compaoré’s 27-year reign. Subsequent events demonstrated a strong popular commitment to democracy. Perhaps the best example was when civil society rallied to thwart an attempted coup against the transitional government in September 2015.
Here’s how you bring down a ‘strongman’ government (without a civil war)
On Sept. 16, the presidential guard (Regiment de Sécurité Présidentielle, or RSP) in Burkina Faso took the Interim President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida hostage, along with two other government ministers. This threatened to send the country into political chaos.
How to make sense of … the short-lived coup in Burkina Faso
The short-lived coup in Burkina Faso may be one of the quickest in the history of African military coups. It merely lasted a week. So, if you are still trying to make sense of what happened, how it unfolded, and what’s next, we’ve got you covered. For an AIAC on the ground analysis of the events as they unfolded, see here. And read this piece for an overview of what’s coming next, after President Kafando was restored as head of the transitional government.
Burkina Faso: President Kafando Is back in Charge, but Now What?
Almost exactly one week after being taken hostage by his own presidential guard (the RPS), President Michel Kafando has been reinstated. Kafando and the international community declared on Wednesday (23 September) that the military coup led by Gen. Gilbert Diendéré failed. This comes after a special ECOWAS mediation team met with Diendéré to negotiate a peaceful conclusion to the political crisis.
Why General Gilbert Diendéré is derailing the political transition in Burkina Faso
The remnants of burnt-out tires litter the streets of Ouagadougou as ordinary Burkinabe resist the military coup threatening to completely disrupt the transition to democracy. On Wednesday, September 16th, the presidential guard—known by the French acronym RSP—seized the President and Prime Minister announcing the dissolution of the transitional government and proclaimed their commander General Gilbert Diendéré as acting head of state.
The unstable foundations of political stability in Chad
West African Papers The West African Papers series explores African socio-economic, political and security dynamics from a regional and multidisciplinary perspective. It seeks to stimulate discussion and gather information to better anticipate the changes that will shape future policies. The series is designed for a wide audience of specialists, development practitioners, decision makers and the informed public.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Daniel
Contact Daniel, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack