Coup d’etat in africa since 2020 timeline and key events

Benin has recently joined the growing list of African nations experiencing military takeovers since 2020. In a swift and dramatic move, soldiers seized control of state television on Sunday, declaring the removal of President Patrice Talon and the dissolution of the government. Within hours, however, authorities confirmed the coup attempt had been thwarted.

In a statement broadcast online, Benin’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, described the mutiny as an attempt to destabilize the nation and its institutions. He reassured the public that the military remained “committed to the Republic.”

This incident underscores a troubling trend across Africa, where contested elections, constitutional upheavals, and security crises have fueled political instability. Below is a detailed chronology of recent coups and attempted coups in the region:

Mali: august 2020 and may 2021

Mali experienced two consecutive coups in 2020 and 2021. In August 2020, soldiers mutinied near Bamako, detaining high-ranking officials amid mass protests demanding the resignation of President Ibrahim Keïta over allegations of corruption and inefficacy in combating armed groups.

Colonel Assimi Goïta, the military leader, brokered a power-sharing agreement with civilian president Bah Ndaw, positioning himself as vice president of the transitional government. However, in 2021, Goïta ousted Ndaw amid disagreements and assumed the presidency, further delaying elections until 2027.

Mali, along with Burkina Faso and Niger, forms a tripartite alliance of landlocked West African nations led by military juntas. These countries have actively resisted regional pressure to restore democratic governance.

Chad: april 2021

Following the death of his father in April 2021, General Mahamat Idriss Déby swiftly seized power, continuing his family’s decades-long rule in Central Africa. Three years later, he organized the election he had pledged upon taking office. Déby was declared the winner, a result contested by the opposition, which alleged fraud. Since then, he has intensified crackdowns on dissent, including the imprisonment of opposition leader Succès Masra on charges carrying a 20-year sentence.

Guinea: september 2021

After 11 years in power, President Alpha Condé was overthrown by a military faction led by Mamady Doumbouya. In 2020, Condé had amended the constitution to allow himself a third term, sparking widespread outrage. Doumbouya, now a civilian candidate, has extended the junta’s rule, with recent changes allowing military leaders to run in elections and increasing presidential terms to seven years.

Sudan: october 2021

In October 2021, Sudan’s military, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, orchestrated a coup against Omar al-Bashir, who had ruled the country for 26 years. Burhan later shared power with Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo (Hemetti), leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

By April 2023, tensions between Burhan and Hemetti escalated into a devastating conflict, described by the United Nations as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The war continues unabated.

Burkina Faso: january and september 2022

Burkina Faso also faced dual coups in 2022. In January, soldiers ousted President Roch Kaboré, installing Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba. By September, Captain Ibrahim Traoré led a second coup, citing worsening security conditions as justification. Traoré has since dissolved the independent electoral commission and remains in power.

Niger: july 2023

In July 2023, General Abdourahamane Tchiani deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, ending Niger’s brief democratic transition. The coup triggered a crisis within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which threatened military intervention to restore Bazoum. In response, Niger aligned with Burkina Faso and Mali to form the Alliance of Sahel States, reinforcing regional resistance to democratic restoration.

Gabon: august 2023

Following President Ali Bongo’s controversial third-term victory in August 2023, soldiers announced a takeover on state television, nullifying the election and dissolving state institutions. Brice Oligui Nguema, a cousin of Bongo, assumed leadership and was later declared the winner of the April presidential election.

Madagascar: october 2025

In October 2025, protests erupted in Madagascar over chronic water shortages and power outages, with young demonstrators demanding the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina. Instead of stepping down, Rajoelina dissolved his government, leading to a military takeover 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 prior. Critics, including the opposition, alleged the coup was staged to prevent the incumbent’s defeat. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was briefly detained before fleeing to neighboring Senegal, where he continues to assert his claim to victory over opponent Fernando Dias.

The new military leadership proceeded with appointments favoring allies of the ousted president.

Benin: december 2025

Less than two weeks after Guinea-Bissau’s coup, soldiers in Benin launched a similar attempt, firing shots near the presidential palace. The self-proclaimed Committee for Refoundation announced President Patrice Talon’s removal and the dissolution of state institutions, naming Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri as the committee’s president.

Within hours, authorities confirmed the coup had been thwarted, with the military reaffirming its “commitment to the Republic.”