Military coups in Africa since 2020: a timeline

Military coups have surged across Africa since 2020, reshaping the political landscape of several nations. Benin recently joined this unsettling trend when soldiers attempted to seize power, though authorities swiftly declared the takeover thwarted. The incident unfolded on national television, where a group of mutinous officers announced the dissolution of the government and the removal of President Patrice Talon.

Within hours, Benin‘s Interior Minister Alassane Seidou addressed the nation online, confirming the coup attempt had been neutralized. The soldiers involved were accused of launching a rebellion to destabilize the state and its institutions, while the military leadership reaffirmed its allegiance to the Republic.

The broader context reveals a pattern of political instability, fueled by disputed elections, constitutional violations, and widespread dissatisfaction among the youth. Below is a comprehensive timeline of coups in Africa since 2020:

Mali: august 2020 and may 2021

Mali experienced back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021, marking a dramatic shift in its governance. The first coup in August 2020 saw soldiers detain high-ranking officials near Bamako, responding to mass protests demanding the resignation of President Ibrahim Keïta, who faced allegations of corruption and failure to combat armed groups.

The military transition was initially led by Colonel Assimi Goïta and civilian President Bah Ndaw, with Goïta serving as vice-president. However, tensions escalated, leading to Goïta’s second coup in May 2021, where he ousted Ndaw and assumed power himself. Elections, originally slated for 2022, were postponed to 2027.

Mali is now part of an alliance with Burkina Faso and Niger, both ruled by military juntas that have withdrawn from the ECOWAS bloc, rejecting demands for a swift return to democracy.

Chad: april 2021

Following the death of his father, Mahamat Idriss Déby, a general in the army, seized power in April 2021, extending his family’s decades-long rule. Three years later, he organized an election he had promised upon taking office. Despite declaring victory, the opposition dismissed the results as fraudulent. Since then, Déby has intensified crackdowns on dissent, including sentencing opposition leader Succès Masra to 20 years in prison earlier this year.

Guinea: september 2021

After 11 years in office, President Alpha Condé was overthrown in September 2021 by soldiers led by Mamady Doumbouya. Condé had controversially amended the constitution to run for a third term in 2020. Doumbouya, now a civilian candidate, is seeking to consolidate power after a referendum extended presidential terms from five to seven years.

Sudan: october 2021

The Sudanese military, under General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, staged a coup in October 2021, removing President Omar al-Bashir, who had ruled for 26 years. Burhan later shared power with Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemetti), leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Their uneasy alliance collapsed in April 2023, igniting a devastating conflict that continues to ravage the country, according to the United Nations.

Burkina Faso: january and september 2022

Burkina Faso followed Mali’s footsteps with two coups in 2022. In January, President Roch Kaboré was ousted by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, who cited deteriorating security. By September, Damiba was himself removed by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, another officer who cited the same concerns. Traoré has since dissolved the independent electoral commission and remains in power.

Niger: july 2023

In July 2023, General Abdourahamane Tchiani overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, ending a rare democratic transition in the region. The coup triggered a crisis within ECOWAS, which threatened military intervention if Bazoum was not reinstated. In response, Niger allied with Burkina Faso and Mali to form the Alliance of Sahel States, further straining regional relations.

Gabon: august 2023

Just days after President Ali Bongo—in power for 14 years and running for a third term—was declared the winner of the 2023 election, soldiers announced a takeover on national television. They annulled the election and dissolved state institutions. Brice Oligui Nguema, a cousin of Bongo, assumed leadership and later won the presidential election in April.

Madagascar: october 2025

Frustration over chronic water shortages and power outages in Madagascar led to mass protests demanding the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina. Instead of stepping down, Rajoelina dissolved his government, sparking a military intervention in the southern African nation.

Guinea-Bissau: november 2025

On November 26, soldiers in Guinea-Bissau seized power following a disputed presidential election three days earlier. Critics, including the opposition, alleged the coup was staged to prevent the incumbent’s defeat. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who claimed victory, fled to neighboring Senegal after being briefly detained. The new military leadership proceeded with appointments, including allies of the deposed president.

Benin: december 2025

Less than two weeks after the coup in Guinea-Bissau, soldiers in Benin attempted a similar takeover following gunfire near the presidential palace. The group, calling itself the Military Committee for Rebuilding, declared President Patrice Talon removed and state institutions dissolved. They appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri as leader of the military committee.

Within hours, officials confirmed the coup had been foiled by the armed forces, with the military reaffirming its commitment to the Republic.