Authoritarian regimes in Burundi and the AES utilize the narrative of external threats to maintain political power.
Mali’s military leadership successfully uses an 'effect flag' strategy to rally citizens against international sanctions.
Burundi’s ruling CNDD-FDD party scapegoats Belgium and Rwanda to deflect blame for domestic economic crises.
The comparison reveals that these regimes prioritize security narratives over democratic processes to ensure their long-term survival.