The mechanisms linking the dismantling of ethnic armies to reactionary violence are analyzed through a comparison of democratization efforts in Benin, Nigeria, and Senegal. Military reactions to democratization varied according to each country's history of building ethnic armies. In Nigeria, northern Hausa-Fulani officers had long dominated the officer corps. When elections resulted in the victory of a southern Yoruba, the northern officer clique annulled Nigeria's democratic experiment. Senegal, in contrast, maintained inclusive security institutions since independence with no evidence of ethnic discrimination or privilege. Senegal's military has not only tolerated increasing liberalization but become its defender. Benin represents a middle course. At the time of democratization, Benin possessed an ethnically diverse military with regional quotas ensuring inclusion at all ranks. However, the government also practiced discrimination in promotion practices at the highest ranks, privileging northern officers. Some of these northern officers engaged in small-scale protest and violence, but were unable to garner enough support to seriously challenge democratization.