For decades, the word coup has been part of Africa’s political vocabulary. From the overthrow of Egypt’s King Farouk in 1952 to the military takeovers that have returned to the headlines in recent years, several African countries have experienced moments when elected governments, presidents or other political leaders were removed from power outside the normal constitutional process.
A coup d’état is generally understood as an illegal and overt attempt by the military or other actors within the state apparatus to remove a sitting government or executive. Researchers Jonathan Powell and Clayton Thyne have documented hundreds of coup attempts around the world since 1950, with Africa recording more than any other region.
The history is long and, in some countries, complicated by repeated coups.
- Egypt
Egypt is often regarded as the starting point of modern coup history in Africa. In 1952, the Free Officers Movement overthrew King Farouk, bringing an end to the monarchy. The event paved the way for the rise of Gamal Abdel Nasser and the establishment of a republic.
Egypt witnessed another major military intervention in 2013 when President Mohamed Morsi was removed from office by the military following mass protests against his government.
- Ghana
Ghana experienced several military interventions after independence. The first president, Kwame Nkrumah, was overthrown in 1966 while he was on a state visit abroad.
Further coups followed in 1972, 1978, 1979 and 1981. The country eventually returned to constitutional democratic rule, and the military has not seized political power since 1981.
- Nigeria
Nigeria has one of the most notable coup histories in West Africa. The country experienced its first military coup in January 1966, when Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and several senior political figures were killed.
Another coup later that year brought General Yakubu Gowon to power. Military interventions continued in 1975, 1976, 1983, 1985 and 1993.
The last military takeover came in 1993, when General Sani Abacha seized power. Nigeria returned to civilian democratic rule in 1999 and has since transferred power through elections. According to documented coup data, Nigeria recorded eight coup attempts between 1960 and 1999, six of which were successful.
- Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso has experienced more successful coups than any other African country in the BBC’s historical review, with eight recorded successful takeovers since 1952.
The country witnessed coups in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, including the 1983 takeover that brought Thomas Sankara to power.
In 2014, President Blaise Compaoré was forced from office following mass protests after he attempted to extend his time in power. More recently, Burkina Faso experienced two military coups in 2022. Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was removed in January, while Lieutenant Colonel Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba was himself overthrown by Captain Ibrahim Traoré in September.
- Mali
Mali has experienced repeated military interventions. The country witnessed coups in 1968, 1991, 2012 and 2020, followed by another military takeover in 2021.
In 2020, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was removed after months of political tension and protests. In 2021, Colonel Assimi Goïta led another takeover and eventually became the country’s leader.
- Guinea
Guinea has also experienced several coups. Its first president, Ahmed Sékou Touré, remained in power until he died in 1984. A military takeover followed soon afterwards.
In 2008, another coup took place following the death of President Lansana Conté. In 2021, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya led a military takeover that removed President Alpha Condé from office.
- Sudan
Sudan has one of the longest histories of coups on the continent. Military interventions have repeatedly interrupted civilian government.
General Ibrahim Abboud seized power in 1958. Another coup brought Jaafar Nimeiry to power in 1969. In 1989, Omar al-Bashir overthrew the elected government of Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi.
Bashir remained in power for almost three decades before being removed by the military in 2019 following months of protests.
In 2021, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan led another military takeover, disrupting Sudan’s planned democratic transition.
- Uganda
Uganda has experienced several military interventions. Milton Obote was overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971. Amin’s government was later removed in 1979.
Obote returned to power before being overthrown again in 1985. Uganda’s history therefore illustrates how military intervention can become part of a cycle of political instability rather than a single event. The BBC records seven successful coups in Uganda.
- Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone experienced a succession of military takeovers after independence. Among the notable coups were those of 1967, 1971, 1985, 1992 and 1996, with further political upheaval during the country’s civil war.
The BBC places Sierra Leone among the African countries with the highest number of successful coups, recording seven.
- Togo
Togo witnessed one of Africa’s earliest post-independence coups in 1963 when President Sylvanus Olympio was killed and removed from office.
The country experienced another military takeover in 1967, which brought Gnassingbé Eyadéma to power. He remained president until his death in 2005.
- Central African Republic
The Central African Republic has experienced repeated changes of government through coups and armed takeovers.
Jean-Bédel Bokassa seized power in 1966 and later declared himself emperor. In 1979, he was removed from power. David Dacko returned to the presidency before being overthrown again in 1981.
In 2003, François Bozizé seized power from President Ange Félix Patassé. Bozizé was eventually removed in 2013.
- Chad
Chad has also had a turbulent political history marked by military interventions and armed conflict. François Tombalbaye was overthrown and killed in 1975.
In 1990, Hissène Habré was removed by Idriss Déby. After Déby’s death in 2021, the military took control rather than allowing the constitutional succession process to proceed normally.
- Niger
Niger has experienced several coups since independence. President Hamani Diori was overthrown in 1974.
There were further military interventions in 1996 and 1999. In 2010, President Mamadou Tandja was removed after a military takeover.
The country returned to civilian rule, but another coup occurred in July 2023 when President Mohamed Bazoum was detained by members of his presidential guard and the military announced that it had taken control.
- Gabon
Gabon experienced a military takeover in August 2023, when military officers announced that they had taken control following a disputed presidential election.
President Ali Bongo was removed from office, bringing an end to his family’s long political dominance. The takeover was part of the recent resurgence of military interventions in West and Central Africa.
Other African countries with a history of coups
The history extends beyond the countries frequently mentioned in today’s headlines.
Successful coups or military takeovers have also occurred in Algeria, Benin, Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Somalia, Tunisia, Lesotho and Zimbabwe, among others. The BBC’s historical review identified 36 African countries that had experienced successful coups between 1952 and 2024.
More recent developments have added to this history. Since 2020, Burkina Faso, Chad, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Sudan have experienced unconstitutional changes of government. In 2025, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau also experienced military takeovers, bringing renewed attention to the question of military intervention in African politics.
Researchers have associated coups with factors including weak political institutions, economic hardship, political exclusion, disputed elections, corruption, insecurity and conflicts between civilian governments and the military. were still developing. Military officers sometimes became important political actors, particularly where civilian institutions were weak or political crises became severe.
Over time, the spread of multiparty democracy and stronger constitutional institutions reduced the frequency of successful coups. But the resurgence of military takeovers since 2020 has shown that the issue has not disappeared.
The African Union and regional organisations such as ECOWAS have repeatedly opposed unconstitutional changes of government. Yet the continuing occurrence of coups demonstrates the difficulty of protecting democratic institutions where citizens lose confidence in political systems.