Introduction

The Sahel is burning under the flames of terrorism. In 2024, 7,555 lives were lost, 20% of them in Burkina Faso, making it the world’s deadliest country according to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025. Despite two coups d’état that were supposed to restore security, Ouagadougou tops the rankings with an alarming score of 8.581, ahead of Pakistan, Mali and Niger. Far from being a simple political option, democracy appears to be the last bastion against collapse.

Military Regimes, Deadly Security Illusions

The juntas, presented as saviours, have only exacerbated the chaos. Their governance is based on repression, disinformation and dubious alliances, leaving the population vulnerable. 55% of terrorist deaths in the Sahel are in countries run by putschists. Burkina Faso, despite its ‘strong’ regime, has seen an explosion in terrorist attacks (+28 places since 2014), while the economy collapses and freedoms disappear. Security cannot be decreed with weapons; it must be built on legitimate institutions and a functioning rule of law.

The Intelligentsia must Break its Silence

Faced with this drift, intellectuals, artists and opinion leaders must break their silence. By remaining silent, they are condoning the falsification of history and the manipulation of public opinion. Yet the young people of the Sahel (60% of the population is under 25) are calling for quality education and a future based on knowledge, not militarisation. Restoring democracy requires independent media, a strong civil society and massive political awareness, to counter the propaganda of authoritarian regimes.

Demystify the Rhetoric and Act Now

The coup plotters blame the West for everything, but since they took power, terrorism has increased (14% more attacks in Mali in 2024). Their main weapon? Misinformation, which masks their inability to govern. Meanwhile, nations like Nigeria (score 7.658) and Somalia (7.614) are demonstrating that a structured democratic process can curb the spread of jihadism. There is an urgent need to re-establish solid institutions, organise credible elections and release political prisoners. The Sahel has no more time to wait.

Conclusion

Weapons will not defeat terrorism. Only democracy, imperfect but robust, can defuse this existential crisis. Burkina Faso, the symbol of this tragedy, must once again become a beacon of freedom and resilience. Every citizen has a crucial choice to make: endure oppression or demand a future where ballot boxes replace bullets. The Sahel does not need saviours in fatigues, but a people on their feet, ready to defend their rights and dignity.

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