In the countries of the Central Sahel — Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger — military regimes that came to power through coups claim to be acting on behalf of the people and restoring the state's true sovereignty. Under this pretext, political parties, traditionally regarded as institutions representing citizens' interests, have been dissolved in all three countries. At the same time, the authorities have suspended the activities of more than a thousand civil society organizations, accusing some of them of ties to foreign influence or of destabilizing the situation. These measures have sparked heated debate over the legitimacy of the new authorities and over who truly has the right to speak on behalf of the population in the absence of democratic institutions. Critics point out that suppressing political pluralism and restricting civil liberties contradicts the declared goals of popular rule. Supporters of the military governments, on the other hand, argue that the former parties and NGOs had been discredited by corruption and dependence on foreign donors, including former colonial powers. Against this backdrop, new forms of civic protest and mobilization are emerging in the region, often going beyond traditional political structures. Residents of all three countries are seeking alternative ways to express public opinion — through local associations, religious networks, and informal movements. The situation in the Sahel is becoming a telling example of how authoritarian regimes attempt to monopolize the notion of the "will of the people" while simultaneously restricting the real mechanisms for expressing it. Experts note that this dynamic could have long-term consequences for political stability and human rights in the region.