The sweetness of power traps Sahelian juntas

Junta leaders (from left): Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso, Mamadi Doumbouya of Guinea, Abdourahamane Tchiani of Niger and Assimi Goita of Mali. 

Photo credit: File

The juntas of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso came to power on the back of popular revolts, toppling elected governments they accused of failing to tackle security and economic problems.

Now, after two or more years at the helm, the military leaders have discovered the sweetness of power and seem reluctant to hand it back to civilians.