On Sunday, the world was alerted to yet another sinister attempt by some group of soldiers, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Tigri Pascal, to topple a democratic government led by President Patrice Talon in the Republic of Benin.

Mr Pascal, who was flanked by a few other soldiers while announcing the military coup on national TV in the early hours of Sunday, accused Mr Talon of mismanaging the country. The military leader stated that the seizure of power translated the firm will of the military committee to restore national peace and cohesion in the country.

However, hours after the announcement had gained traction globally, the country’s interior minister, Alassane Seidou, appeared on national television, announcing that the coup had been thwarted by soldiers loyal to Mr Talon who had decided to support the government.

Mr Seidou also announced that things had returned to normal, urging Beninese citizens to resume their daily activities. Hours later, Mr Talon’s government said some of the soldiers linked to the coup had been arrested.

Coup d’etat in Africa, especially in West Africa, has become commonplace in recent years, raising concerns about the survival of democracy and security on the continent.

Nigeria played a role in thwarting the coup in Benin. On Monday, President Bola Tinubu’s administration disclosed that the Nigerian Air Force conducted military operations in the country, adding a request for the deployment of ground forces was also approved.

This was followed by the deployment of combined military troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast by ECOWAS, as part of a regional force to restore stability in the West African country.

In 2023, Mr Tinubu threatened to launch military action and other penalties against coup plotters in the Niger Republic.

Below are countries that have recently witnessed a military coup on the continent.

Madagascar

On October 14, 2025, Madagascar’s military army, led by Colonel Michael Randrianirina, announced a takeover of the country and dissolved all institutions.

The group, however, retained the lower house of parliament, which voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina, who fled the country for safety, a few minutes before his announcement.

The military takeover in the country followed three weeks of protests that broke out on September 25. It started as demonstrations over water and power shortages but morphed into calls for Mr Rajoelina’s resignation.

The ousted president had sacked his cabinet members and begged for one year to fix power and water shortages, promising to resign should the problems persist to pacify protesters and douse tension. But his appeal could not persuade protesters, who remained on the streets until he resigned.

Guinea-Bissau

Army generals in Guinea-Bissau seized power on November 26, 2025, the eve of a scheduled official declaration of the winner in the West African nation’s presidential polls.

The military, which alleged plots by unnamed politicians and drug lords to destabilise the process, halted the electoral process and blocked the results of the contest.

General Horta Inta-a, who headed the presidential guard, was subsequently sworn in as the transitional leader, and Ilídio Vieira Té, a close Embaló ally, was appointed prime minister, raising significant concerns about a deepening regional crisis of democracy and Guinea-Bissau’s inability to disentangle itself from its history of coups.

Niger Republic

On July 26, 2023, military officers in the Niger Republic toppled the government of President Mohammed Bazoum and took over state television hours after Mr Bazoum was detained inside the presidential palace in the capital, Niamey.

Colonel Amadou Abdramane, who was among the leaders of the coup, took the centre position during the announcement, with nine other officers in military fatigues standing beside him, saying the soldiers seized power to put an end to the regime due to the deteriorating security situation and bad governance in the country.

In March 2021, a coup attempt in the country was foiled when a military unit tried to seize the presidential palace just days before Mr Bazoum’s scheduled inauguration.

Burkina Faso

On September 30, 2022, a military group, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, ousted the previous junta leader, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, citing a deteriorating security situation in the country.

Mr Traoré dismissed Damiba’s transitional government and legislature and suspended the constitution, placing all power in himself and his junta.

The military leader also called on senior ministry bureaucrats to keep the government’s day-to-day operations functioning.

Gabon

The military, led by Brigadier General Brice Oligui Nguema, stormed the national broadcaster on August 30, 2023, hours after the announcement that President Ali Bongo Ondimba had won in the Central African country’s elections again.

The coup plotters introduced themselves as the “Committee of Transition and the Restoration of Institutions”, ending the Bongo family’s 53-year control of political power in the country.

Mr Bongo took over power in 2009 after his father, Omar Bongo, died. Though he suffered a stroke in 2018, sparking calls for him to step down, Mr Bongo held on to power, conducting another election and was declared the winner.

Guinea

On September 5, 2021, a group of soldiers, led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, removed the 11-year-old regime of President Alpha Conde, citing poverty and corruption in government as reasons for the forceful takeover.

While announcing a nationwide curfew and its plans to replace Guinea’s governors with regional commanders, the soldiers also announced the dissolution of the constitution, stating that it would draft a new one.

Mr Conde was elected into power in November 2010. In 2015, Mr Conde ran again for president and secured a second term after a poll riddled with violence and amid accusations of fraud.

In 2020, Mr Conde was announced as the winner of the November 7 presidential election for the third term. Like most of its neighbours, the small West African country struggled with corruption and poverty.

Mali

On May 24, 2021, Mali experienced its second coup with Colonel Assimi Goïta becoming the transitional president, after overthrowing interim civilian leaders, President Bah Ndaw and PM Moctar Ouane. Earlier in 2020, the country had witnessed a coup that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta from power.

Experts speak on Africa’s coup epidemic

Experts described the development as worrisome, saying it did not portray the African continent in a good light.

A security consultant and former director of the State Security Service, Mike Ejiofor, blamed the recurring military takeovers on “democratic failures” on the continent, stressing the urgent need for leaders to be more careful.

“Generally in Africa, there have been democratic failures,” Mr Ejiofor said. “But, it is good that the coup was thwarted. That would have meant that we’re surrounded by the military apart from Cameroon. The worst democracy is worse than military benevolence. We should not be going backward. It would have meant a lot for the political direction in Nigeria. And I think we also should be careful because military intervention should not be welcome in any part of Africa.”

Stressing the need for a transparent electoral process in Africa, the former SSS director urged governments and politicians to be accountable to the people.

He added, “My advice goes to the governments and politicians all over, not only in Nigeria. Our politicians are so flagrant and display impunity that nobody can do anything. It is important to see, at least, that our votes count. When votes count, the emerging leadership should be accountable to the people. As it is now, when people know you can switch yourself to power and go to court, it doesn’t promote good governance and democracy. They should look at the sensibilities of the people they govern.”

Ameen Akeem, a lecturer and commentator on sociopolitical issues, also condemned the coups, adding that the trend shows that security in Africa is in the hands of those who do not believe in democracy.

“The coup anywhere is condemned; no right-thinking person will support it,” Mr Ameen said. “That said, the coup in Benin has further shown that Africa is still not progressing. It means that security in Africa is in the hands of those who do not believe in democracy. And that is dangerous.”

While noting that poor governance fuels coups, which he said are detrimental to democratic progress, the lecturer urged African leaders to be more accountable to the masses.

Mr Ameen added, “Nothing encourages a coup more than poor governance. When people become tired of the leadership, all sorts of ideas emerge, including resorting to a coup. How do we expect people to react when leaders refuse to relinquish power? Leaders should be responsible. They should not stretch the people’s patience. Otherwise, people will become agitated.”