Timeline of Coup d’état in Africa Countries from 2017 -By Caleb Onah

On the morning of August 30, 2023, a group of high-ranking officers of the Gabonese armed forces appeared on national television to announce that they had taken power and annulled the results of the August 26 elections, in which incumbent President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who had held office since 2009, was re-elected for a third term. Altogether, various countries across Africa have experienced more than 90 coups d’etat since 1952. Here are the most recent coup that occurred across Africa since 2017.

Zimbabwe – 2017 coup d’état: On November 15, 2017, Zimbabwe’s military placed President Mugabe under house arrest, after he fired his vice president, Mnangagwa, who had the support of the war veterans. The ruling party, ZANU-PF, ousted Mugabe from its leadership on November 19 and nominated Mnangagwa as his successor. Mugabe resigned on November 21, ending his 37-year rule, and Mnangagwa was sworn in as the new president on November 24. The Supreme Court upheld the legality of the military’s intervention on November 25.

Sudanese – 2019 coup d’état: On the afternoon of April 11, 2019, in response to widespread mass demonstrations demanding his removal from office, President Omar al-Bashir was ousted from power by the Sudanese Armed Forces. During this critical moment, the military, led by Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf, took decisive action to overthrow the existing government and dissolve the National Legislature. Subsequently, a three-month state of emergency was declared across the nation to restore stability and address the prevailing crisis. Following this tumultuous turn of events, a two-year transitional period was initiated, marking a pivotal phase in Sudan’s political landscape. Over time, negotiations and diplomatic efforts ultimately led to the successful agreement that paved the way for a more stable and inclusive government in the country.

Mali – 2020 coup d’état: On August 18, 2020, a mutiny within segments of the Malian Armed Forces escalated into a full-fledged coup d’état. This sudden and dramatic turn of events resulted in the detention of numerous government officials, including President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, who ultimately decided to resign from his position and dissolve the government. Notably, this coup marked the second instance of political upheaval in Mali in less than a decade, with the previous one occurring in 2012.

Malian – 2021 coup d’état: On the evening of May 24, 2021, the Malian Army, led by Vice President Assimi Gota, carried out an operation to apprehend and detain President Bah N’daw, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, and Minister of Defence Souleymane Doucouré. This marked a troubling development as it was the third coup d’état to disrupt Mali’s political stability in just a decade. The previous military takeovers occurred in 2012 and 2020, with the latter taking place a mere nine months before this latest incident.

Tunisian – 2021 self-coup: On July 25, 2021, Tunisian President Kais Saied orchestrated a dramatic overthrow of the Hichem Mechichi government. This extraordinary move included the suspension of the Assembly of Representatives of the People and the removal of immunity from its members. Termed a self-coup, this action came in the wake of a period marked by political turmoil, which was punctuated by a series of protests against the Ennahda party and the deterioration of Tunisia’s healthcare system amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guinean – 2021 coup d’état: On September 5, 2021, President Alpha Condé of Guinea was captured and detained by the military. In a televised address on state television, Mamady Doumbouya, the leader of the special forces, declared the dissolution of the government and the constitution, signaling a significant political upheaval in the country. In a separate incident, on October 25, 2021, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Sudanese military staged a coup against the sitting government in Sudan. This coup resulted in the initial detention of at least five top government officials, further contributing to the political instability in the nation.

Burkina Faso – 2022 coup d’état: On January 23, 2022, Burkina Faso’s military staged a coup and ousted President Kaboré. The coup leaders accused the government of failing to stop the Islamist insurgency that has killed thousands and displaced millions. The international community condemned the coup and demanded the return of constitutional order and the release of the president and other officials. The coup is the ninth in Burkina Faso’s history and threatens its democracy and stability.

Burkina Faso – 2022 coup d’état: On September 30, 2022, a coup d’état took place in Burkina Faso, resulting in the removal of Interim President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba from office. The coup was primarily driven by concerns over Damiba’s perceived inability to effectively address the nation’s ongoing Islamist insurgency. Remarkably, just eight months prior to this coup, Damiba himself had come to power through a previous coup. In the aftermath of the recent coup, Captain Ibrahim Traoré assumed a temporary leadership role to manage the situation.

Nigerien – 2023 coup d’état: On July 26, 2023, Niger’s presidential guard staged a coup and detained President Bazoum. The coup leader, General Tchiani, claimed to have dissolved the government and the parliament, citing the president’s failure to address the security and constitutional issues. The international community condemned the coup and demanded the release of the president and the return of democracy. The coup is the second in Niger’s history and jeopardizes its security and development.