Why Military Coups Still Resonate Across Africa with Judd Devermont

Coups have shaped African politics since independence, and they are once again at the center of the continent’s political debate. In this episode of The Africa Program Podcast, Mvemba Phezo Dizolele is joined by Judd Devermont, former senior director for African affairs at the U.S. National Security Council, to examine why coups continue to resonate with African publics and why they so often fail to deliver lasting change.Drawing on decades of history, from Mobutu and Rawlings to today’s juntas in the Sahel, Devermont explains why many coups are initially popular, how military rulers frame themselves as corrective forces, and why most end up reproducing the very governance failures they claim to overthrow. The conversation explores the role of conflict, populism, generational divides within the military, and the evolving response of the United States and the international community.A sobering and timely discussion on democracy, security, and whether Africa can finally escape the long shadow of coup politics.