A coup d’état—defined by Merriam-Webster as a sudden overthrow of a government by a small group, from the French phrase meaning “stroke of state”—has plagued Africa since the Egyptian army toppled King Farouk in 1952. That event kicked off a pattern of military interventions across the continent, with over 100 successful coups in 35 countries. Despite alarms over recent spikes, such as the failed attempt in Benin Republic in 2025, this phenomenon is far from new.
Root Causes: Governance Failures and Fragile Systems
Coup plotters often cite civilian government failures as their primary justification. The Benin attempt highlighted dissatisfaction with security lapses, including militant violence in the north and neglect of fallen soldiers’ families. Similar grievances echo in other cases, like Mali’s 2020 and 2021 coups or Niger’s 2023 takeover.
Experts point to deeper structural issues:
- Weak institutions and flawed democracy: Compromised courts, legislatures, and electoral bodies erode public trust. Leaders who manipulate constitutions or cling to power block legal change, pushing elites and military figures toward force.
- Socio-economic woes: Corruption, inequality, unemployment, and mismanagement breed discontent. Military leaders exploit these to portray coups as remedies for graft and unmet basic needs.
- Military’s outsized role: Colonial legacies built strong security forces, while post-independence elites bolstered armies for loyalty—sometimes backfiring by empowering them to seize power. Recent fights against jihadist groups in the Sahel have further elevated militaries politically.
- Security crises: Insurgencies undermine legitimacy, creating pretexts for intervention and public support amid fears of instability.
These factors explain why coups feel normalized, even as Nigeria’s history—from the 1960s to 1990s—shows the pattern persisting.
A Continent’s Coup Map
Coups cluster in unstable regions:
| Region | Key Examples |
|—————–|————–|
| North Africa | Egypt (1952, 2013) |
| West Africa | Mali (2020, 2021), Niger (2023), Burkina Faso (2022), Guinea (2021), Benin
(2025 attempt), Nigeria (1960s-1990s), Ghana, Sierra Leone, Togo, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau (2025) |
| Central Africa | Chad (2021), Central African Republic, Burundi, DRC |
| East Africa & Indian Ocean | Sudan (highest at ~18 attempts), Madagascar, Comoros | | Southern Africa| Zimbabwe (2017), Lesotho |
West and Sahel nations see the most, tied to elections, instability, and extremism.
Harsh Consequences and Government Reactions
Successful coups upend governments, cancel elections, and install military rule—often leading to oppression, civil rights curbs, democratic erosion, and isolation from bodies like the AU and ECOWAS. Economies suffer: GDP stalls, investors flee, aid dries up, and sanctions bite due to military inexperience in finance and trade.
Governments counter attempts decisively:
- Mobilize security, arrest plotters as “traitors.”
- Impose curfews, internet blackouts, border closures.
- Reassure citizens, promise reforms, and court loyalist support.
- Seek aid from AU, ECOWAS, UN, and others.
Benin’s swift response foiled its 2025 plot, but questions linger: Are coup motivations valid? Can they be avoided? Will it be Africa’s last?
Breaking the Cycle
Benin’s near-miss underscores fragile democracies vulnerable to internal pressures and socio-economic strains. While coups promise quick fixes, they deliver disruption, not progress. True stability demands resilient institutions, accountable leadership, security investments, and equity. Without confronting these roots, military shadows will loom over Africa’s governance dreams.