How are Authoritarian Narratives Undermining Democracy in the Sahel

In recent years, countries in the Sahel region of Africa have faced widespread insecurity and instability. Stretching across the northern tier of sub-Saharan Africa, Sahel countries Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have all experienced a series of military coups and rising levels of right-wing extremism undermining their democratic governance. A new National Democratic Institute (NDI) paper from SIS professor Samantha Bradshaw and PhD candidate Monzima Haque explores how strategic authoritarian narratives are shaping conversations about democracy and regional security in the Sahel. To learn more, we asked Bradshaw and Haque some questions about their research, how they worked together, and key takeaways from the article.

What are strategic authoritarian narratives, and why is this an important topic to research, particularly in the Sahel? Strategic narratives are deliberately crafted stories that create shared understandings and achieve political objectives by drawing on collective memories, emotions, and analogies. Strategic authoritarian narratives, in particular, advance authoritarian agendas, weaken democratic institutions, and promote illiberal governance. In this study, we apply the strategic narrative framework developed by Miskimmon et al. (2014) to analyze how these narratives operate as tools of information operations in the Sahel. These narratives exploit political instability, insecurity, and anti-colonial sentiments, eroding trust in democratic governance and fostering authoritarian alternatives. This research is critical because the Sahel faces persistent coups, foreign interference, and declining democratic governance, which significantly impact regional stability and global security. Our analysis focuses on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a flashpoint and examines how the emergence of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has consolidated democratic backsliding in the region. How are foreign actors like Russia influencing democracy and security in the Sahel? Russia employs strategic narratives to weaken Western influence and position itself as a reliable ally to Sahelian states. These narratives capitalize on anti-colonial sentiments and pan-African identity to build local support while undermining trust in democratic institutions. For instance, pro-Russian posts emphasize Russia's provision of grain aid, military support, and diplomatic engagement, such as Burkina Faso's partnerships with Russian universities and President Traoré's address at the Russia-Africa Summit. At the same time, anti-Western content portrays France and the US as destabilizing forces with slogans like "long live Russia" featuring prominently in protests against French military presence. These efforts strategically reframe Russia as a counterbalance to Western alliances, reshaping perceptions of democracy and security in the Sahel. What are the key takeaways from this article? Our study identifies three key findings about strategic narratives in the Sahel. First, issue narratives (which address specific political or social concerns) dominate online discourse by framing ECOWAS as a neo-colonial tool and highlighting the growing alignment between Sahelian states and Russia. Second, identity narratives (which emphasize shared values, history, or collective identity) use pan-Africanism to critique Western influence and legitimize authoritarian actions. Third, system narratives (which focus on the structure of international relations) challenge Western hegemony by promoting alternative alliances, such as the Alliance of Sahel States and partnerships with Russia. These intertwined narratives weaken democratic governance and promote authoritarian alternatives, illustrating how disinformation shapes public opinion and regional geopolitics. How did the two of you work together on this article? How do your research backgrounds complement each other? We combined our expertise to collaborate closely on this research. Professor Bradshaw's work focuses on the intersection of technology, disinformation, and security, while my research examines environmental governance and the role of discourses and narratives in shaping policies. Together, we applied her insights into disinformation analysis and my understanding of strategic narratives to conduct a comprehensive qualitative content analysis. This partnership brought diverse perspectives to the study, resulting in a robust framework for analyzing authoritarian influence in the Sahel. What impact do you hope this research will have on policymakers and civil society in the democratic governance and security space? We aim for this research to empower policymakers and civil society with actionable insights into the narratives shaping public discourse in the Sahel. By exposing the tactics and strategies underpinning authoritarian influence, we provide tools to strengthen democratic institutions, uphold human rights, and build resilience against destabilizing propaganda. We hope this study inspires informed and collaborative efforts to counter disinformation, foster inclusive governance, and safeguard regional stability in the face of mounting authoritarian pressures.

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