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.
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