In the Central African Republic (CAR), outside the capital Bangui, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra exerts little to no authority. Armed rebel groups control two-thirds of the country, including access to mining sites.

The contagion of coups d’etat in the Sahel and West Africa shows no signs of slowing, with an attempted coup in perennially fragile Guinea-Bissau the latest installment in what could be a long saga.

In a country with a still-developing sense of national identity, and with many regional ethnic, and religious cleavages, the Super Eagles are a strong—perhaps the strongest—symbol of national unity.

As African populations continue to reject the status-quo, opportunists find a foothold.

Blaming external actors for the country’s woes accomplishes little for the Malian people.