Escalating crackdowns on freedoms and democratic transitions
In 2025, military-led governments across West Africa and the Sahel intensified their suppression of civil liberties while consolidating power, according to a recent human rights assessment. The report highlights a troubling pattern of authoritarian measures adopted by ruling juntas in the region, raising serious concerns about the future of democracy and human rights.
Regional security challenges and civilian impact
Armed Islamist groups, alongside government forces and their allies, continued to target civilians and critical infrastructure in Nigeria and the Sahel. Meanwhile, military regimes in the Sahel have systematically expelled regional and international oversight bodies, further weakening accountability mechanisms for human rights abuses.
Mausi Segun, Africa director at the watchdog organization, emphasized the urgency of the situation: «The military juntas in the Sahel have escalated their crackdowns on free speech and other fundamental freedoms, betraying promises of democratic transitions. Regional efforts must urgently prioritize opening political spaces and safeguarding citizens’ rights.»
Key developments in governance and human rights
The latest World Report examines human rights practices in over 100 countries, framing the global surge in authoritarianism as a defining challenge of our time. With democratic systems under unprecedented threat from global powers, the report calls for a unified response from rights-respecting governments and civil society to defend core liberties.
Erosion of democratic norms in transitioning states
- Niger and Mali extended their transitional periods to five years and banned multi-party politics, while Chad abolished presidential term limits.
- Governments across the region continued to restrict free expression, dissent, and media freedom. In Burkina Faso and Mali, journalists, activists, and critics faced arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, or illegal conscription. In Nigeria, authorities arrested and prosecuted journalists and social media users under expansive cybercrime laws.
- Former Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum remains arbitrarily detained without trial, and Chadian opposition leader Succès Masra was sentenced to 20 years in prison on politically motivated charges.
Violence and impunity in conflict zones
- Islamist militant groups, including the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM) and the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS), carried out deadly attacks on civilians in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
- State forces, pro-government militias, and the Russian-backed Africa Corps were implicated in extrajudicial killings targeting the Fulani ethnic group.
- In Nigeria, the resurgence of Boko Haram’s faction in Borno State, alongside rampant banditry in the northwest, has left communities vulnerable to violence, kidnappings, and raids, with little accountability for perpetrators.
Withdrawal from regional accountability frameworks
Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso finalized their exit from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and announced their departure from the International Criminal Court (ICC). These moves severely undermine access to justice for victims of human rights violations.
Calls for regional and international action
The report urges the African Union and other regional and international bodies to redouble efforts in protecting civilians and holding perpetrators accountable for abuses. Without decisive action, the escalating repression and violence threaten to destabilize the region further.
