List Of Military Coups In Africa Since 2020
Over the past three years, there have been several successful coups in Africa. Let’s take a look at the circumstances that led to these coups in Africa and the countries that got affected.
1. Gabon
Military officers in Gabon have taken over power from the government of Gabon. This happened in August, 2023. According to the military officers, the recent general election lacks credibility. Gabon’s election saw a unified opposition front content the current president
The Gabon Opposition candidate, Albert Ondo Ossa had claimed ‘victory’ in the Presidential Elections and renewed the call for Ali Bongo to concede defeat. Gabon’s 2.3 million citizens have been impoverished with poverty and under development for over 40 years.
The military has therefore cancelled the election results all borders closed until further notice and state institutions dissolved. Loud sounds of gunfire could be heard in the capital, Libreville, a Reuters reporter said, after the television appearance.
2. MALI
In August, 2020, the incumbent President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was overthrown by a gang of Malian colonels under the command of Assimi Goita. The coup came after anti-government demonstrations about worsening security, contentious elections for the legislature, and corruption charges.
The junta consented to hand over control to an interim administration run by civilians, which will oversee an 18-month transition to free and fair elections in February 2022.
After a clash between the coup leader and the interim president, retired colonel Bah Ndaw, the junta staged a second coup in May 2021. Assimi Goita, who had been acting vice president in the meantime, was promoted to the position of president.
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3. CHAD
Chad President, Idriss Deby was shot dead while visiting rebels in the north. The army later took over the government in April, 2021. The late President’s son General Mahamat Idriss Deby, was named interim president. However, this appointment was unlawful. According to their laws, the speaker of parking should have been named president. The unlawful transfer of power sparked rioting in N’Djamena, the country’s capital, which the military eventually put down.
4. GUINEA
In September, 2021, the president of Guinea, Alpha Conde was overthrown by the leader of the special forces, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya.
The reason for this coup was that the president made some changes in the constitution that prevented the leader of the special forces from running for the third time. ECOWAS thereafter imposed sanctions on Doumbouya, junta leaders, and relatives, rejecting the promise of a transition to democracy in three years
5. BURKINA FASO
The country had two coups in 2022. In January 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba ousted President Roch Kabore over failure to contain violence by Islamist militants.
However, on September 30, 2022, Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power from Damiba to become the country’s new leader.
6. NIGER
On July 26, 2023, members of Niger’s presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum inside his palace, declaring on national television that they were seizing power to address the “deteriorating security situation and bad governance.”
ECOWAS has made to deploy troops to Niger to make arrests. However, this seem hard as most French speaking countries in Africa do support this coup. Sending troops to Niger with vehicles is quite a hard task to do. Using the airlines is also impossible.
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