Coups cheered in West Africa as Islamist insurgencies sap faith in democracy

Boureima Dicko, 70, who recently fled attacks by Islamist militants in northern Burkina Faso, walks into his host's shelter at a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in the capital Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, January 29, 2022. [Reuters]

The last time rebellious soldiers attempted to overthrow Burkina Faso's government in 2015, Marcel Tankoano was among thousands of protesters who took to the streets to oust the junta. Within days, loyalist forces had restored the president to power.

Last week, Mr Tankoano was on the streets again, this time celebrating the military coup that toppled the country's elected president, Roch Kabore.