In recent years, Africa has witnessed a troubling resurgence of military coups, destabilizing several nations and posing significant challenges to regional stability and democratic governance. Since 2021, there have been successful coups in Gabon, Niger, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Guinea, Chad, and Mali, marking a stark reversal from the preceding two decades when coups had been on the decline.
Out of 54 African countries, 45 have experienced at least one coup attempt since 1950, according to data collected by Jonathan Powell and Clayton Thyne. Narrowing this to successful takeovers—those where perpetrators hold power for at least seven days—37 countries, or about two-thirds of the continent, have faced such events.
In response to the coup in Niger in July, 2021 the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) took an unprecedented stance. The regional bloc implemented stringent sanctions and threatened military action to restore Niger’s democratically elected government. Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS’s commissioner for political affairs and security, declared, “The decision is that the coup in Niger is one coup too many for the region, and we are putting a stop to it at this time. We are drawing the line in the sand.”
Despite the unified response from most West African nations, the junta in Niger remains in power, highlighting the complexities and challenges involved in reversing a coup once it has taken place.
Sudan tops the list with 18 coup attempts since 1950, six of which were successful. The most recent successful coup in Sudan occurred in October 2021. Meanwhile, Burkina Faso holds the record for the highest number of successful coups, with nine since 1966, including two in 2022. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, experienced eight coup attempts—six successful—between its independence in 1960 and 1999. However, Nigeria has since transitioned to democratic governance, contributing to greater stability in West Africa.
Countries grappling with ongoing terrorism and insurgencies are disproportionately more likely to experience coups. Leaders of the recent coups in Niger and Burkina Faso justified their actions by citing their governments’ failures to stem deadly Islamist insurgencies in the Sahel region. This interplay between terrorism and political instability creates a vicious cycle, where insecurity begets coups, which in turn further destabilize the region
The resurgence of coups poses significant challenges for Africa’s development and stability. The international community, including regional organizations like ECOWAS and the African Union, must work collaboratively to address the root causes of these coups, including poor governance, corruption, and insecurity.
