In Summary
- States with the highest coup frequency share a pattern of divided command, where presidential guards, paramilitary units, and rival army factions compete for authority.
- The outcome of many coups depends less on domestic grievances and more on military and diplomatic support from foreign governments and international networks.
- Successful coups rarely end with a change of leadership alone; they reshape constitutions, restructure armed forces, and embed military authority in civilian governance for generations.
Deep Dive!!
Lagos, Nigeria, Monday, September 22 – Since independence, African states have recorded more than 200 coup attempts, with over half of them successful. This scale is unmatched in any other region and has had lasting consequences for political development. In countries where coups have occurred repeatedly, they have not only changed governments but also weakened institutions and hardened divisions within the state.
The recurrence of coups cannot be reduced to a single cause. In many cases, militaries inherited oversized roles in governance during colonial transitions, leaving them as the only institutions capable of asserting power during moments of crisis. Economic shocks, contested elections, and unresolved conflicts have often provided the immediate triggers, while external actors have sometimes reinforced the cycle by backing rival factions.
However, coups have also been moments of political reordering. They have produced new constitutions, altered the role of the military in society, and forced debates on legitimacy and state authority. Tracing the states with the highest number of coups by early 2025 not only recounts histories but also exposes the structural vulnerabilities that continue to shape African politics, highlighting the resilience of societies that, despite repeated ruptures, continue to push for more stable governance.
Across the decades, patterns emerge that explain why certain states experience repeated coups while others remain relatively stable. The intensity of military involvement in politics, the competition for natural resources, and the absence of strong civilian oversight have all been decisive. At the same time, societies facing chronic political disruption have developed unique forms of resilience, grassroots movements, constitutional reforms, and regional mediation efforts that reflect a continuing struggle to build durable political orders. These layered dynamics set the stage for a closer examination of the countries where coups have occurred most frequently up to 2025.
10. Nigeria
Nigeria’s political history has been marked by nine coups and attempted coups, beginning with the January 1966 overthrow of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa’s government. That initial intervention, carried out by young officers, set the precedent for the military’s repeated involvement in state affairs. The counter-coup of July 1966 deepened regional divisions and led directly to the civil war. Over subsequent decades, successive takeovers brought figures such as Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Mohammed, Olusegun Obasanjo, Muhammadu Buhari, and Ibrahim Babangida into power. The last full-scale military regime ended in 1999, but incidents such as the disrupted plot in Oyo State in April 2024 show that attempts, though less frequent and less organized, have not entirely disappeared.
The persistence of coups in Nigeria is tied to structural conditions. The army’s early role as a political actor normalized intervention and gave officers a taste of power that repeatedly drew them back into governance. Control of oil revenues turned the state into a prize, amplifying competition within both the political elite and the military hierarchy. Ethnic and regional fault lines added another layer of fragility, as alignments within the armed forces often mirrored national divides. These factors created an environment where coups were not exceptional interruptions but recurring instruments in political contestation.
Reforms since 1999 have shifted this trajectory. Civilian oversight has been strengthened through legislative scrutiny of defence affairs and greater budgetary transparency. The judiciary and civil society have become more assertive in resisting unconstitutional changes. Importantly, the military itself has increasingly emphasized its professional identity, distancing its corporate image from the political entanglements of earlier decades. The swift response to the 2024 Oyo incident arrests, prosecutions, and public condemnation by senior officers underscored this evolution. Nigeria’s past remains heavily shaped by its coup experience, but its institutions now demonstrate greater resilience against the cycle of military intervention.
9. Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has experienced nine major coups and coup attempts since independence, reflecting its turbulent post-colonial history. The first occurred on September 14, 1960, when Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, later known as Mobutu Sese Seko, overthrew Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba amid Cold War tensions and internal political fragmentation. Mobutu solidified power with another coup on November 25, 1965, removing President Joseph Kasa-Vubu and establishing a long-lasting authoritarian regime. These early coups were closely tied to both political instability and external influences, including Cold War rivalries that shaped the DRC’s leadership transitions.
Subsequent coups and attempts during Mobutu’s rule and afterward illustrate continued challenges to central authority. On May 16, 1997, Laurent-Désiré Kabila overthrew Mobutu, marking the end of the First Congo War and Mobutu’s 32-year rule. The post-Mobutu period saw several failed coup attempts: on March 28, 2004, former elite members of Mobutu’s protection unit attempted to seize power in Kinshasa, and on June 11, 2004, Eric Lenge planned a coup against Joseph Kabila, both of which were suppressed. Additional attempts occurred on February 27, 2011, against Kabila, and on December 30, 2013, involving followers of Paul Joseph Mukungubila, demonstrating the persistence of armed opposition even after regime change.
More recent events highlight ongoing political fragility. On February 8, 2022, an alleged coup was reported against President Félix Tshisekedi, followed by another attempt on May 19, 2024, by members of the New Zaire Movement. These attempts, though unsuccessful, reflect enduring factionalism, weak institutional control, and the lingering influence of armed groups in Congolese politics. Overall, the DRC’s nine coups and attempts underscore the central role of military and political factions in shaping leadership transitions, with periods of both violent overthrow and failed conspiracies punctuating the country’s post-independence history.
8. Burundi
Burundi has experienced nine recorded coups and attempted coups since independence, reflecting the country’s long-standing political instability and military influence. The first significant event occurred on October 18–19, 1965, when a failed coup targeted King Mwambutsa IV, setting a precedent for military interventions in political transitions. This was followed by July 8, 1966, when Ntare V overthrew Mwambutsa IV, only to be deposed himself later that year on November 28, 1966, by Michel Micombero, who established a republic. These early coups marked the shift from monarchical to republican rule and established a pattern of military dominance in Burundian politics.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Burundi experienced further coups as the military consolidated power. On November 10, 1976, Jean-Baptiste Bagaza overthrew Michel Micombero, and on September 3, 1987, Pierre Buyoya ousted Bagaza. These transitions, often bloodless at the top leadership level, nonetheless involved the restructuring of political authority and the suppression of dissent. The assassination of Melchior Ndadaye during a failed coup from October 21 to November 1993 highlighted the severe ethnic and political tensions underlying Burundian coups, as the first democratically elected Hutu president was violently removed by elements of the Tutsi-dominated military.
The late 20th and early 21st centuries continued to see attempted coups and leadership interventions. On July 25, 1996, Pierre Buyoya returned to power by overthrowing Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, followed by a failed coup on April 18, 2001, targeting Buyoya. The most recent recorded attempt occurred from May 13–15, 2015, when General Godefroid Niyombare led a failed coup against President Pierre Nkurunziza, highlighting ongoing tensions between military factions and the executive. Throughout these events, Burundi’s coups have been closely tied to both ethnic dynamics and political instability, with the military repeatedly acting as a decisive arbiter of power, while the country’s democratic institutions remained vulnerable to intervention.
7. South Africa
South Africa has experienced ten coup events and attempts throughout its history, spanning the pre-colonial, apartheid-era, and post-apartheid periods. In the 19th century, political upheavals began in the Zulu Kingdom, with September 24, 1828, marking Dingane’s deposition of Shaka Zulu, and 1840, when Mpande overthrew Dingane with Boer support. In the South African Republic (Transvaal), on December 6, 1860, Stephanus Schoeman ousted Johannes Hermanus Grobler, reflecting early internal political struggles within settler republics. These coups set a precedent for military and factional interventions in regional governance.
During the apartheid era, coups were concentrated in the homelands and Bantustans. In Transkei, Bantu Holomisa overthrew Stella Sigcau on December 30, 1987, followed by a failed coup led by Colonel Craig Duli on November 22, 1990. In Bophuthatswana, a short-lived coup on February 10, 1988, installed Rocky Malebane-Metsing, but it was quickly reversed by the South African Defence Force, reinstating Lucas Mangope. Later, on March 11, 1994, Mangope was overthrown by mutinying forces during the reintegration of Bophuthatswana into South Africa. In Venda, Gabriel Ramushwana ousted Frank Ravele on April 5, 1990, and in Ciskei, Oupa Gqozo and the Ciskei Defense Force overthrew Lennox Sebe on March 4, 1990, demonstrating the persistence of military interventions across multiple regions.
Post-apartheid South Africa has experienced fewer coups, but attempts persisted. In 2002, the Boeremag, a white supremacist group, plotted to overthrow the African National Congress (ANC) government, including assassination attempts on former president Nelson Mandela and bomb attacks, though the plot was foiled before execution. These events illustrate the continued potential for politically motivated military and paramilitary actors to challenge state authority. Despite the country’s overall stability since 1994, the historical record of ten coups and attempts highlights South Africa’s complex trajectory from pre-colonial conflicts and apartheid-era homeland interventions to the modern democratic state, where organized resistance and extremist factions remain rare but possible threats.
6. Libya
Libya’s modern coup history began on September 1, 1969, when Muammar Gaddafi and the Free Officers Movement overthrew King Idris, abolishing the Senussi monarchy and establishing a republic under the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC). Early opposition to Gaddafi included a December 1969 attempted coup by Defense Minister Moussa Ahmed and Interior Minister Adam al-Hawaz, which failed. Throughout the 1970s, several counter-coups were foiled, including plots by Abdullah al-Abid al-Senussi and Ahmed al-Senussi in 1970, as well as an August 13, 197, attempt by Bashir Hawadi and Umar Muhayshi, all of which Gaddafi’s RCC suppressed. In May 1984, the National Front for the Salvation of Libya attempted to overthrow Gaddafi but failed, and another unsuccessful plot in October 1993 was led by Warfalla officers. These early coups reflected resistance to Gaddafi’s consolidation of power and his use of revolutionary security apparatuses to control military dissent.
The 2011 Libyan Civil War marked the next major period of coups and attempted power shifts. Following the NATO-backed uprising that deposed Gaddafi, April 17, 2013, saw an attempted coup against Prime Minister Ali Zeidan led by Gaddafi loyalists, followed by a second coup in October 2013 led by Abdel-Moneim al-Hour. In 2014, two further coup attempts occurred: one targeting Zeidan and another against Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani, both led by military actors such as Major General Khalifa Haftar. These attempts reflected the fragmentation of Libya’s military and political institutions in the post-Gaddafi era, as competing factions sought to assert control amid a weak central government.
Libya’s pattern of coups illustrates the persistent role of armed actors in shaping state authority. From Gaddafi’s seizure of power in 1969 to the failed post-2011 attempts against transitional governments, coups in Libya have consistently emerged from disputes within the military or between rival political-military factions. The long-term consequences include enduring instability, divided governance structures, and the proliferation of regional militias that continue to influence political outcomes. Today, despite formal governments and international mediation efforts, Libya remains prone to military interventions and coup attempts, reflecting the unresolved legacies of both Gaddafi’s rule and the post-revolutionary power vacuum.
5. Ethiopia
Ethiopia has experienced ten coup events and attempts spanning the 20th and 21st centuries, involving both the imperial monarchy and later republican governments. Early political challenges emerged in 1928, when conservative nobles sought to limit Ras Tafari Makonnen’s influence, followed by the Italian occupation of 1935–1941, which temporarily displaced the Solomonic monarchy. The first modern coup attempt occurred in December 1960, when members of the Imperial Guard tried to depose Emperor Haile Selassie while he was abroad, installing Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen as a figurehead. The plot failed after four days, but it revealed growing discontent within the military, setting the stage for future interventions.
The most significant period of military coups began with the rise of the Derg, a committee of army officers led by Mengistu Haile Mariam. In September 1974, the Derg overthrew Haile Selassie, ending centuries of monarchical rule. Internal factional struggles followed: Mengistu survived an attempted coup by Tafari Benti in November 1974 and another factional challenge in February 1977. Dissatisfaction among officers and regional insurgencies contributed to a failed coup in 1989. The Derg regime ultimately collapsed in 1991, when the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) captured Addis Ababa, forcing Mengistu into exile.
Under the EPRDF and subsequent federal governments, coup attempts persisted. In 2019, a failed coup in the Amhara region led to the assassination of General Seare Mekonnen, highlighting the continued influence of regional military factions. Ethiopia’s history of coups reflects structural tensions between centralized authority and armed actors, shifting from monarchy to military dictatorship, and then to federal democracy. Despite reforms and political liberalization under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed since 2018, including peace agreements with Eritrea, Ethiopia remains vulnerable to challenges to state authority, with military and regional actors continuing to play decisive roles in political transitions.
4. Egypt
Egypt has one of the longest and most complex histories of coups in Africa, with eleven recorded events ranging from the ancient era to the modern republic. The country’s tradition of elite intervention in politics dates back centuries, but in the modern state, the decisive moment came in 1952. That year, the Free Officers Movement led by Muhammad Naguib and Gamal Abdel Nasser deposed King Farouk, ending the monarchy and laying the foundation of Egypt’s republican era. The coup was driven by discontent with corruption, military defeat in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and public anger at economic inequality. The overthrow of Farouk became a watershed event in Africa and the Middle East, inspiring similar military takeovers across the continent.
Egypt’s post-1952 political order was deeply shaped by military dominance. After briefly holding power, Naguib was ousted in 1954, leaving Nasser to consolidate authority. Nasser’s pan-Arabist vision, sweeping land reforms, and defiance of Western powers made him a symbol of anti-colonial nationalism, but also entrenched the military as the supreme arbiter of politics. Successive attempts to overthrow him, such as the failed plot in 1957, highlighted the tensions between traditional elites and the new nationalist order. Later, under Anwar Sadat, Egypt faced both reformist pressures and Islamist opposition, culminating in Sadat’s assassination in 1981 during a military parade. The transition to Hosni Mubarak underscored how regime continuity in Egypt often emerged from violent ruptures.
More recently, Egypt’s coup-prone legacy has resurfaced in the context of popular uprisings. The 2011 Arab Spring toppled Hosni Mubarak after three decades in power, marking the first time mass civilian protests, rather than the army, forced regime change. Yet only two years later, in 2013, the military returned to the center of politics, overthrowing Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president. General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s rise in that coup restored the armed forces’ dominance, revealing the enduring cycle of military guardianship over civilian politics. While Egypt has held elections since, the structural role of the army ensures that it remains one of Africa’s most coup-prone nations, balancing between republican rule and military authoritarianism.
3. Central African Republic
The Central African Republic (CAR) has recorded fourteen coups and attempted coups since its independence in 1960. The first major event came on January 1, 1966, when Jean-Bédel Bokassa, then a military officer, overthrew President David Dacko. Bokassa’s rule faced repeated challenges, with attempted coups in 1974, 1975, and 1976, though all failed. In September 1979, however, Dacko regained power with direct French military support during Operation Barracuda. Dacko’s second tenure was short-lived, as he was deposed by General André Kolingba in September 1981. Kolingba survived a coup attempt in 1982 by Ange-Félix Patassé, François Bozizé, and Alphonse Mbaïkoua. His successor, Patassé, who assumed the presidency in the 1990s, faced repeated instability, including a mutiny in 1996 and a failed coup attempt in May 2001. François Bozizé attempted to oust Patassé in 2002, and by March 2003, he succeeded in taking power. A decade later, in March 2013, Bozizé himself was overthrown by Michel Djotodia and the Seleka coalition. The transitional government led by Catherine Samba-Panza also came under threat in 2015 during a failed coup attempt by militia leaders Haroun Gaye and Eugene Ngaïkosset. More recently, in January 2021, former president Bozizé was linked to an unsuccessful coup attempt against President Faustin-Archange Touadéra.
The frequency of coups in the Central African Republic is rooted in the state’s chronic institutional fragility and fragmented political order. Since independence, the military has served as the primary arbiter of power, often stepping in to resolve disputes or seize control in the absence of strong civilian institutions. Ethnic and regional rivalries have also played a major role, with political leaders often relying on narrow patronage networks that excluded large parts of the population. Economic challenges, including extreme poverty, weak infrastructure, and reliance on limited exports, further undermined central authority, leaving governments vulnerable to both internal mutinies and external manipulation. Foreign involvement has been decisive: France intervened directly in 1979 to remove Bokassa, while neighboring states have at times provided support to rebel groups seeking to influence CAR’s leadership.
Today, the Central African Republic remains under the presidency of Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who has relied on foreign military support, including Russian contractors, to maintain his position. While large-scale coups have been less frequent since 2013, the persistence of armed groups across much of the country and the failed 2021 coup attempt underscore the continuing fragility of state institutions. Unlike some states that transitioned away from repeated coups, CAR’s political stability remains closely tied to external security guarantees and the balance of power between the central government and non-state armed actors.
2. Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso, formerly known as Upper Volta, has experienced sixteen coups and attempted coups since its independence in 1960, making it one of the most politically unstable states in West Africa. The cycle began on January 3, 1966, when Lieutenant Colonel Sangoulé Lamizana ousted President Maurice Yaméogo. Lamizana later consolidated power further in 1974 through a self-coup against Prime Minister Gérard Ouédraogo’s government. He was removed in November 1980 by Colonel Saye Zerbo, who was in turn ousted two years later by Major Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo. Ouédraogo’s rule was short-lived, as Captain Thomas Sankara rose to power in August 1983 with the backing of Blaise Compaoré. Four years later, on October 15, 1987, Sankara was killed during a coup led by Compaoré, who went on to govern for nearly three decades. His long tenure was marked by multiple coup attempts, including plots in 1989 and 2003. Mass protests in 2014 forced his resignation, and Lieutenant Colonel Yacouba Isaac Zida briefly took charge before selecting Michel Kafando as interim president. In 2015, the presidential guard under Gilbert Diendéré briefly overthrew Kafando, though the coup failed within a week. More recently, Burkina Faso has seen two successful coups in 2022: first, the ouster of President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré in January, followed by the removal of interim leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba in September by Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Since then, the country has recorded several attempted coups, including failed plots in 2023, 2024, and April 2025.
The recurring coups in Burkina Faso can be linked to persistent institutional weakness, internal divisions within the military, and challenges of governance in a country facing social and economic constraints. Political parties have struggled to establish durable authority, creating openings for military leaders to intervene. The army, long entrenched as a central political force, has been prone to factionalism, as seen in rivalries between Lamizana, Zerbo, and, later, Compaoré’s supporters. Economic pressures ranging from reliance on cotton exports to unemployment and poverty have fueled public discontent that often paved the way for military takeovers. In the more recent period, the growing threat of Islamist insurgencies in northern and eastern regions has intensified instability, with military rulers justifying interventions on grounds of national security. External involvement, particularly from France and neighboring states, has also shaped outcomes, with foreign actors playing roles in both sustaining and opposing regimes over time.
At present, Burkina Faso is under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who took power in September 2022. His government, like those of his predecessors, has justified its rule as a response to insecurity and the fight against armed groups. Despite his continued grip on power, recent coup attempts in 2023, 2024, and 2025 highlight ongoing divisions within the military and the fragility of the political order. The country remains under military-led transition with no clear timetable for the restoration of civilian governance, underscoring the continuity of its coup-prone history.
1. Sudan
Sudan has experienced around twenty coups and attempted coups since its independence in 1956, the highest in Africa. The first attempt came in June 1957, when Abdel Rahman Ismail Kabeida failed to seize power. The following year, in November 1958, General Ibrahim Abboud staged Sudan’s first successful coup, bringing an end to parliamentary government. Military intervention became a recurring feature thereafter: Gaafar Nimeiry’s takeover in May 1969 introduced a period of authoritarian rule punctuated by repeated coup attempts throughout the 1970s, including the failed Communist-backed uprising of 1971. Nimeiry remained in power until 1985, when General Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab ousted him during a popular uprising. In June 1989, Omar al-Bashir, backed by the National Islamic Front, overthrew the civilian government and established a three-decade rule that survived several coup attempts before ending with his removal during the Sudanese Revolution of April 2019. Subsequent years saw renewed instability: a failed attempt in September 2021 was followed by a successful coup in October 2021 led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The most recent episode, beginning in April 2023, saw the Rapid Support Forces launch an armed campaign against the Sudanese Armed Forces, escalating into a civil war.
Several factors explain Sudan’s repeated coups. Civilian governments were often weakened by fragile party coalitions and limited authority, while the military remained highly organized and positioned to intervene. Ethnic, regional, and ideological divides, particularly between northern elites and marginalized regions, contributed to persistent instability. The military itself became politicized, producing rival factions and alliances such as those between the regular army, Communist elements in the 1970s, and later Islamist groups. Economic difficulties, from agricultural dependence to oil-related disputes and financial crises, further undermined public confidence in civilian governments. External influences also played a role: Cold War dynamics shaped early interventions, while regional states and Gulf powers have supported competing factions in more recent years.
In the present, Sudan remains under military rule, with governance shaped by rivalry between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The 2019 revolution raised hopes of a civilian transition, but repeated coups and the outbreak of the 2023 conflict have left the country in a prolonged state of instability. Unlike other African states that experienced coups but later stabilized, Sudan continues to face contested authority and fragmented military dominance, making its political future uncertain.
https://www.africanexponent.com/top-10-african-countries-with-the-most-recorded-coups-and-attempts-early-2025/
