In this piece for The Conversation, Salah Ben Hammou and Jonathan Powell argue that the coup in Madagascar highlights how regional bodies such as the Southern African Development Community weaken their own legitimacy when they continue to endorse unpopular or undemocratic leaders domestically.
In this commentary piece for The Conversation, postdoctoral associate Salah Ben Hammou outlines five common features of recent coups in West Africa: contagion across borders, popular civilian support, muted international responses, coup leaders learning to consolidate power, and a turn away from Western partners toward Russia. Hammou argues that recognizing these patterns is crucial for developing more effective strategies to defend and restore democracy in the region.