The Sahel States Military Intervention in Politics: The Conflict of Vested Colonial Interest and National Security

Abstract

The earth-rocking  military interventions in the politics of Sahelian states constitutes a critical challenge to democratic consolidation and national sovereignty. Despite transitions to civilian rule in many African countries, the Sahel continues to experience recurrent military takeovers, raising concerns over underlying causes and external influences. This paper examined the Sahel States Military intervention in politics: the conflict of Vested Colonial interest and National Security. The objective is to explore the root causes of military intervention, assess the influence of former colonial powers, analyze, and recommend strategies for democratic strengthening. The Theoretical framework for the study is anchored on 'Neo-colonialism Theory' propounded by Kwame Nkrummah (1965), methodologically the study is hintched on a descriptive-historical research design to trace the patterns and implications of foreign interference and military dominance in post-colonial Sahelian politics. Data were gathered through secondary sources, including scholarly journals, books, archival records, and credible internet sources. The data were qualitatively analyzed using content analysis to interpret recurring themes and patterns relevant to the research question. Research findings revealed that weak democratic institutions, elite corruption, ethnic tensions, and foreign strategic interests particularly those of former colonial powers are significant drivers of military coups. Furthermore, military regimes often undermine governance quality and restrict national sovereignty, while external actors perpetuate instability under the guise of security cooperation. The study concludes that for the Sahel to achieve political stability, regional governments must address internal governance deficits and reduce foreign dependency. The paper recommended strengthening democratic institutions, promoting inclusive governance, enhancing youth political engagement, and limiting foreign political manipulation.