Africa’s Coup Wave: Benin Attempt Adds to 10 Military Takeovers in 5 Years

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A fresh military coup attempt in Benin has once again drawn attention to the surge of coups across Africa, as soldiers claim to have ousted President Patrice Talon while loyal forces say he is safe and regaining control. The attempted putsch joins a dramatic list of 10 successful coups in the past five years, including Mali’s double takeover under Colonel Assimi Goita, Guinea’s 2021 putsch led by Mamady Doumbouya, and Sudan’s 2021 coup that descended into a devastating war between rival armed factions. Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, Madagascar, and Guinea-Bissau have all seen elected leaders pushed aside by juntas extending 'transitions,,' often citing jihadist threats, political crises, or youth-led uprisings. This video breaks down each coup, the generals now in charge, delayed elections, and Benin’s instability.

Transcript

00:00A military coup attempt in Benin Sunday adds to a list of such incidents on the turbulent

00:08African continent. A group of soldiers announced that they had ousted President Patrice Talon,

00:13although his entourage said he was safe and the army was regaining control.

00:18Here is a recap of the 10 coups in Africa in the last five years.

00:23Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is overthrown by five army colonels in August 2020.

00:37In May 2021, the Malian military takes over from the civilian leaders of an interim government.

00:44Colonel Assami Goita, who led both coups, is sworn in as transitional president.

00:49After promising to hold elections in February of 2024, the military puts them off indefinitely,

00:56pointing to the jihadist violence plaguing the country. In July 2025, Goita approves a law

01:04granting himself a five-year presidential mandate, renewable without election. In September,

01:10jihadists launch a fuel blockade, weakening the ruling junta.

01:19On September 5th, 2021, mutinous troops led by Lieutenant Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya take over

01:27in Guinea, arresting President Alpha Conde Doumbouya in early November 2025,

01:34submits his candidacy ahead of December 28th. Elections that are meant to restore constitutional order.

01:41After weeks of tension between the military and civilian leaders who had shared power since the

01:52ousting of dictator Omar al-Bashir, the armed forces led by Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan

01:58stage a new coup on October 25th, 2021. Since April 2023, war has raged between the regular armed

02:08forces led by Burhan and the paramilitary rapid support forces led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan

02:15Daglo. The conflict has so far killed tens of thousands of people and created one of the world's

02:21worst humanitarian crises.

02:29Burkina Faso underwent two military coups in 2022.

02:33In January that year, mutinous soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Honry Sandago Damiba

02:40arrest President Roch Mark Christian Cabore. Then, in September, army officers announce they

02:46have dismissed Damiba. Captain Ibrahim Traore becomes transitional president, but elections he

02:52promised do not materialize. In May 2024, the junta authorizes him to stay for another five years

03:00in a country wracked by Islamist violence.

03:08On July 26th, 2023, members of the presidential guard overthrow Niger's president Mohamed Bazoum,

03:17elected in 2021. General Abdurrahmanid Tiani, head of the presidential guard, takes over.

03:24In March 2025, the junta extends by at least five years its transitional leadership of the country,

03:31which is plagued by jihadist violence.

03:40In Gabon, ruled for 55 years by the Bongo family, army officers on August 30th, 2023, overthrow

03:48President Ali Bongo Andimba. Less than an hour after he is declared winner of an election,

03:54the opposition says was fraudulent. General Bryce Oligwe Ngema is named transitional president.

04:01In April 2025, he is elected president with 94.85% of the vote. He is sworn in on the basis

04:10of a new constitution approved by referendum during the transition.

04:21In October 2025, the military ousts Madagascar's president Andriy Rajoyalina and takes power

04:28following weeks of Gen Z anti-government protests. Army Colonel Michael Randriyanirina is sworn in as

04:35Madagascar's new president, promising elections within 18 to 24 months.

04:47In November 2025, military officers in Guinea-Bissau declare they have total control of the coup-prone

04:55West African country, closing its borders and suspending its electoral process three days after

05:01general elections. The military says a command composed of all branches of the armed forces

05:07is taking over the leadership of the country until further notice.

Africa’s Coup Wave: Benin Attempt Adds to 10 Military Takeovers in 5 Years

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