Why Coups Are Making a Comeback in Africa

Africa has witnessed a troubling resurgence of military coups, with ten takeovers recorded between 2020 and 2025. The trend has raised concerns about democratic backsliding and the growing acceptance of unconstitutional changes of government across the continent.

While every coup has its own political context, several common factors have emerged. Weak governance, corruption, constitutional manipulation, worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and declining public trust in civilian governments have all created conditions that militaries have used to justify seizing power.

The recent wave began in Mali in 2020, where the military ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta before consolidating power through a second coup in 2021. Guinea followed in September 2021 after President Alpha Condé’s controversial third-term bid, while Sudan’s October 2021 coup derailed its democratic transition and was later followed by a devastating civil war.

In Burkina Faso, two coups in 2022 reflected growing frustration over the government’s inability to contain  jihadist violence. Niger’s July 2023 military takeover ended one of the region’s most stable democracies, despite international pressure to restore civilian rule. Gabon also experienced a military takeover in 2023 after a disputed presidential election, ending more than five decades of Bongo family rule.

The pattern highlights a broader regional challenge. In many countries, prolonged insecurity—particularly across the Sahel—has weakened public confidence in civilian governments. At the same time, disputed elections, constitutional amendments to extend presidential terms, corruption, and economic difficulties have further eroded democratic legitimacy.

Although some coups initially received public support from citizens frustrated with poor governance, military governments have often delayed elections or extended transitional periods, raising concerns that temporary interventions are becoming long-term rule.

Breaking this cycle requires more than condemning coups after they occur. African governments must strengthen democratic institutions, uphold constitutional rule, improve security, tackle corruption, and create economic opportunities that address the grievances often exploited by military leaders.

Without meaningful reforms, the conditions that have fuelled Africa’s latest wave of coups are likely to persist, leaving democratic progress across the continent increasingly vulnerable.

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