African armies, who were significant political actors during the 39 years following independence, are highly susceptible to political and ethno-religious divisions. This state of affairs has only been partially altered by the political transitions that took place during the 1990s and that took place under the control of a military that wanted to preserve its position as much as possible. The political rationales at work in post-transition regimes, which are still largely neo-patrimonial, demonstrate a problematic divide between the political and military spheres. In a context of deinstitutionalized armies and fragile states, the use of force remains a political resource, and the military still occupies a role and power that extend far beyond the barracks.