“You want me on that wall. You need me on that wall.”
That line from A Few Good Men has never resonated more deeply across African political discourse. As the Akan proverb reminds us, “When the spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.” Today, three military leaders have woven their ambitions into a collective challenge to the established order.
An unprecedented alliance of military rulers—Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, Colonel Assimi Goïta of Mali, and General Abdourahamane Tchiani of Niger. These men stand as self-proclaimed guardians of the Sahel, rejecting Western partnerships and institutions.
Yet their rise poses a sharper question: Are these men protectors of African interests, or gatekeepers playing a high-stakes geopolitical game?
The Architects of a New African Order
Captain Ibrahim Traoré, at just 37, is the youngest. He rose to power in 2022. His pan-Africanist rhetoric has made him a folk hero.
Colonel Assimi Goïta took control in Mali through two coups in 2020 and 2021. He expelled French troops and welcomed Russian Wagner Group forces.
General Abdourahamane Tchiani was a relatively unknown military officer until July 2023, when he overthrew Niger’s civilian president.
But with military leaders rising not just in the Sahel, but also in Guinea, Gabon, and Sudan, is Africa embracing a new era of strongmen? Is this truly the path we want for the continent’s future?
Together, they form a defiant axis: anti-imperialist, populist, and Pan-African. However, rhetoric, however inspiring, is not strategy.
A New Security Narrative: Anti-Western, Pro-Russian, and Pan-African?
This alliance’s message is consistent: no more Western troops, puppet regimes, or economic dependency masked as aid.
From Harlem to Accra, the diaspora has responded.
Yet admiration alone doesn’t govern. Global politics is not a drum circle; it is a chessboard. Military regimes without economic depth or institutional design rarely withstand state-building pressures.
Can They Handle the Truth?
In A Few Good Men, Colonel Jessup justified harsh decisions by arguing that someone had to protect the nation from unseen threats. Traoré, Goïta, and Tchiani may believe they act similarly for Africa.
However, intent is not the same as outcome. History asks more challenging questions:
- Will Russia remain a dependable partner?
- Can Pan-African symbolism translate into real economic transformation?
- Can these military leaders evolve into democratic statesmen?
Libya’s Gaddafi, once admired for challenging the West, ultimately fell. The Yoruba wisdom that “the child who refuses to listen to the voices of the elders will not live to see old age” is particularly relevant here. These military leaders risk overlooking the lessons of previous revolutionary movements.
Strategic Analysis: High Stakes, Low Leverage
Burkina Faso and Mali are landlocked, economically fragile, and threatened by jihadist insurgencies. Niger holds uranium and strategic positioning but risks underdevelopment through isolation.
All three depend on Russian support while severing ties with ECOWAS and Western allies. This isn’t independence; it is strategic overdependence.
In the language of game theory, these leaders are betting on maximum disruption with minimal fallback. That may earn applause now, but what happens when Russian aid slows or their economies stall?
Institutions Over Individuals
The rise of Traoré, Goïta, and Tchiani reveals a continent hungry for dignity, agency, and freedom from Western paternalism. But Africa’s long-term liberation won’t come from military charisma. It will come from systems:
- Transparent governance
- Diversified economies
- Civilian institutions
- Democratic transitions
The continent doesn’t need a few good men on the wall. It needs walls that won’t crumble when the men fall.
Tiger’s Roar
Listen, Africa. These soldier-statesmen genuinely believe they are defending the soul of our continent.
These men have captured global attention and diaspora hearts. Now they must prove they can govern. Can they build economies? Can they create institutions that outlast their ambitions? Can they transition power peacefully? Or, are we tired of democracy? If so, what’s next?
The continent doesn’t need more strongmen. We need statesmen who understand that true strength lies not in military uniforms but in civilian institutions, domestic capacity, and evolutionary progress.
As the Ethiopian proverb teaches, “When the roots of a tree begin to decay, it spreads death to the branches.” Africa’s challenge lies in replacing personalities and strengthening the institutional foundations that can endure beyond any individual leader.
As Colonel Jessup might say today: “You want leadership? You need systems.”
The choice is ours, and the moment to make it is now. Tiger Rifkin is the creator of The Witty Observer, a Pan-African media platform focused on geopolitics, leadership, and bold commentary on Africa’s global future.
1 Comment
You wrote that “these soldier-statesmen genuinely believe they are defending the soul of our continent.” However, I don’t see how that can be true. When in history have we seen well-meaning leaders act as they are? I would think the selflessness required of high honor leadership is incompatible with coups d’etats. These men are too self-interested. Sorry