Military Populism & the Test of Democracy

Across West Africa, democracy is under pressure from every angle. Military regimes are no longer hiding behind silence and brute force, they’re now staging TikTok campaigns, spinning anti-imperialist slogans, and wrapping themselves in populist rhetoric. Our latest background paper with  Observatoire Ivoirien des Droits de l'Homme-OIDH digs into this rise of military populism, introducing new tools to understand how propaganda is reshaping the political landscape.

But even as these regional shifts unfold, the cracks are showing closer to home. Anambra’s recent senatorial bye-election revealed worrying signs ahead of November’s governorship polls: entrenched vote buying, questions around INEC’s credibility, and looming legal disputes that could stretch beyond election day.

From juntas trading ballots for barracks to local contests marred by manipulation, West Africa stands at a crossroads. The real question is whether its democracies can withstand the test.

Publications

Emerging Military Populism in Francophone Africa: A Background Paper

Grounded in history but focused on the digital present, the report unpacks how colonial legacies feed modern militarism while platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram are weaponised to spread propaganda and silence dissent. It also introduces the ABCD framework (Actor, Behaviour, Content, Degree) for analysing these campaigns. 

This is the first in an 8-month research series tracking how military populism is evolving in both Francophone and Anglophone West Africa, and what it means for the future of democracy. Download the report here.

Spotlight

Strengthening Partnerships for Peace

On 26 August 2025, CDD-West Africa was delighted to host the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC). The visit provided space to reflect on emerging issues of peace, conflict, and migration, while also reviewing the impact of KAIPTC’s training programmes across the continent. We shared lessons from our work on democracy, peacebuilding, and inclusive governance, and gained valuable insights from KAIPTC’s rich experience in capacity building. Partnerships like this not only strengthen knowledge exchange but also deepen our collective commitment to building a more peaceful and resilient Africa.

Press & Fact Desk

CDD-West Africa Raises Alarm Over Rising Military Populism in Francophone Africa

CDD-West Africa raises the alarm on the growing normalisation of military rule across the region. From Mali to Niger, juntas are repackaging authoritarianism through populist rhetoric, digital propaganda, and Pan-African slogans—delaying transitions, silencing dissent, and reshaping ideas of legitimacy. With ECOWAS struggling to enforce its red lines, CDD urges urgent action to protect democratic norms before the gun replaces the vote as the accepted path to power. Read Here.

Forecast

Road to Anambra 2025

With less than three months to the November 8 governorship polls, all eyes are on Anambra, and the recent Anambra South senatorial bye-election has already offered a glimpse of what’s to come. Reports of widespread vote buying dominated the headlines, with voters allegedly offered between ₦10,000 and ₦25,000 per ballot in LGAs like Nnewi South, Ihiala, and Ekwusigo, inducements that voters themselves described as a “travesty of democracy” amid rising hunger.

Civil society organisations also raised alarm over INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Queen Elizabeth Agwu, accusing her of attempting to tilt the process in favour of a candidate. Though INEC declared APGA’s Emmanuel Nwachukwu winner with a commanding 90,408 votes, the APC has rejected the results, alleging intimidation by security operatives and vowing to take the fight to court.

For November, three warning signs stand out: inducement remains deeply entrenched, institutional credibility is under growing pressure, and legal disputes are already shaping the narrative before ballots are even cast. With tensions mounting, the governorship race promises not only a fierce contest at the polls but also a prolonged battle in the courts, a test of both Nigeria’s electoral system and Anambra’s democratic resilience.

Quiz

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