Coup contagion in West Africa

The military takeover in Gabon in August is the eighth coup d’état across sub-Saharan Africa in three years. Recent coups have raised alarms over how Western countries have backed authoritarian governments
in the name of stability


AFRICA


SAHARA DESERT
MAURITANIA
MALI
SENEGAL
GUINEA
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
BURKINA FASO
CAMEROON
NIGERIA
GABON
SAHEL
NIGER
CHAD
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
REPUBLIC OF CONGO
SUDAN
ERITREA
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8


RECENT COUPS

1 Aug 2020, Mali: President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita ousted

2 Apr 2021, Chad: Army takes power after death of President Idriss Deby

3 May, Mali: Second coup overthrows interim president

4 Sep, Guinea: Special forces commander Colonel Mamady Doumbouya ousts President Alpha Condé

5 Oct, Sudan: Military seizes control of country

6 Jan 2022, Burkina Faso: Army ousts President Roch Kabore

7 Jul 2023, Niger: Presidential guard detains President Mohamed Bazoum, military junta takes power

8 Aug 30, Gabon: Hours after President Ali Bongo Ondimba is elected to third term, military seizes power


CAMEROON

Jan 1960: Gains independence from France

If 90-year-old President Paul Biya (above) dies before he chooses successor, political crisis could ensue.

Military elites could align with ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement during succession as excuse to seize power and raid state resources

 
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Jun 1960: Gains independence from Belgium

President Felix Tshisekedi (above), 60, remains vulnerable amid civil war in eastern provinces and elections in December that will likely suffer from fraud and violence.

Many members of military remain loyal to Tshisekedi’s rival, former President Joseph Kabila


REPUBLIC OF CONGO Aug 1960: Gains independence from France

Rumours of potential military coup surface when 79-year-old President Denis Sassou-Nguesso (above) attends UN General Assembly in New York on September 17.

Economic discontent runs high – fuelled by exorbitant wealth of Nguesso family, allegedly embezzled from state coffers


EQUATORIAL GUINEA Oct 1968: Gains independence from Spain

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, 81, (above) has been in power for past 44 years.

Obiang’s son, Vice-President Teodoro Obiang Mangue, convicted of corruption and embezzlement, providing military with excuse to seize power in event of succession crisis


Sources: AFP, Council on Foreign Relations, Global Witness, Stratfor, Reuters
Pictures: Getty Images
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