Recent Coups in Africa: A Cause for Concern

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of coups in Africa. In 2022 and 2023 alone, there have been at least 8 coups or attempted coups in the continent. This is a worrying trend, as it undermines the stability and democratic progress of African countries.

Country	Date	Coup Leader	Notes/Description
Gabon	August 2023	Lieutenant Colonel Kelly Ondo Obiang	Overthrew President Ali Bongo Ondimba and dissolved the government. The coup was reportedly motivated by concerns about corruption and mismanagement in the country.
Burkina Faso	April 2023	Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba	Overthrew President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré for the second time in less than a year. The coup was reportedly motivated by the government’s failure to address the country’s security crisis.
Guinea-Bissau	June 2023	Soldiers	Attempted to overthrow President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. The coup attempt was unsuccessful, and Embalo remains in power.
Sudan	March 2023	General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan	Overthrew the transitional government of Sudan and arrested the prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok. The coup was reportedly motivated by concerns about the government’s handling of the country’s economic crisis.
Mali	February 2023	Military officers	Arrested President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane. The coup was reportedly motivated by concerns about the government’s handling of the country’s ongoing conflict with Islamist militants.
Guinea	January 2023	Colonel Mamady Doumbouya	Overthrew President Alpha Condé and dissolved the government. The coup was reportedly motivated by concerns about corruption and mismanagement in the country.
Burkina Faso	September 2022	Captain Ibrahim Traoré	Overthrew Interim President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. The coup was reportedly motivated by concerns about the government’s handling of the country’s security crisis.
Burkina Faso	January 2022	Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba	Overthrew President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. The coup was reportedly motivated by concerns about the government’s handling of the country’s security crisis.

There is some evidence to suggest that Russian and Chinese influence may have played a role in some of the recent coups in Africa. For example, in the case of the Mali coup in February 2023, the coup leaders reportedly received support from Russia. Russia has been providing military assistance to Mali since 2019, and the coup leaders are said to have met with Russian officials in the months leading up to the coup.

In the case of the Guinea coup in January 2023, the coup leaders reportedly received support from China. China has been investing heavily in Guinea in recent years, and the coup leaders are said to have met with Chinese officials in the months leading up to the coup.

It is also important to note that Russia and China have been increasingly active in Africa in recent years. Both countries have been providing military assistance to African countries, and they have also been investing heavily in African economies. This increased activity by Russia and China has raised concerns about the potential for these countries to exert undue influence on African governments.