During Kenya’s state visit, the United States should work toward building a more resilient model of U.S.-Africa partnerships.

After President Roch Kabore of Burkina Faso was overthrown in a military coup, both the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) condemned what they have insisted is an “attempted coup” and reminded the Burkinabe military of its constitutional role of defending and upholding the constitution.

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.

Walking on eggshells with South Africa only obscures an increasingly discordant U.S.-South Africa relationship.