List of African countries under military rule

African democracies are increasingly becoming obsolete; at least in some countries particularly in West Africa. This is due to the penchant for military coups in sub-Saharan Africa. Since the turn of the decade, several African countries have seen democratically elected governments toppled by the military for various reasons. The continent witnessed another high profile coup today, barely a month after one happened in Niger.

The circumstances of the overthrow of governments in each case vary but they almost universally have the same force of pull and push. Countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Siera Leone, Burundi and Burkina Faso are among the number of countries that have experienced the most coups since their independence. Most of these countries come from West Africa and the most recent ones are in Francophone West African countries where anti-France sentiments have been rising.

However, today’s article focuses on the number of countries that are currently under military rule in Africa. The latest to join the list is Gabon, a country in West Africa, though not part of ECOWAS. To start with, there have been over 200 successful and attempted coups in Africa; nearly half of the global figure.

So which African countries currently have military rulers?

There are seven African countries with military leaders. Gabon is the latest to join the list after soldiers in the country announced the toppling of President Ali Bongo soon after he was declared winner of the elections held on August 26.

Mali: August 2020

Mali was the only country in Africa to experience a coup in 2020. President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was removed from office following months of protest that resulted from a disputed parliamentary and presidential election in March and April of that year. President Keita was arrested alongside side his Prime Minister Boubou Cissé and the president resigned at midnight of the same day. Temporary civilian rule was restored with Bah N’daw as President and Assimi Goita as vice. However, on May 24 2021, Vice President Assimi Goita orchestrated another coup by capturing President Bah N’daw, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane and Minister of Defence Souleymane Doucouré. He has since been the leader of the country with no definite date for elections.

Chad: April 2021

Chad fell into the hands of the military following the death of the country’s president Idris Deby was killed on the frontlines of the offensive against Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) rebel group in the northern part of the country on April 20. Per the constitution of the country, the Speaker of Parliament was supposed to step in as the interim president until an election was organized not earlier than 45 days and not more than 90 days. But the military announced Mahamat Deby, the son of Idriss Deby, a four-star general of the Chadian army as the new leader of the country. No elections have been held yet following the breakdown in negotiations with the FACT rebel group.

Guinea: September 2021

Mamady Doumbouya is the current leader of the country. He led a coup to oust former president Alpha Conde on September 5, 2021. On October 1, the same year, he was sworn into office as the interim president of the country. Mali is the second of four West African countries to appear on the list and is also one of the places where anti-France and pro-Russian sentiments have been high. The country’s coup has also been seen as the motivating factor for other countries that appear on this list.

Sudan: October 2021

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the current leader of the country led a coup on October 25, 2021. Two years prior, President Omar al-Bashir was ousted from office by the military under the name Transitional Military Council (TMC). Protests which were the basis for the overthrow of Omaral-Bashir continued until the TMC reached an agreement with the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) on a powering sharing structure. The agreement stipulated a three-year period for the return to democracy. During that period, the Sovereignty Council, the body formed to lead the country was to be headed by the military for 21 months and power transferred to a civilian for the final 18 months, ending in November 2021. The military group was led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. However, a month to the end of the terms agreed, the military under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan carried out another coup, ending the transition process.

Burkina Faso: January 2022

Similarly to the case of Mali and Sudan, Burkina Faso experienced a coup over a coup. On January 23, 2022, soldiers opened fire at the Presidential residence but the army denied any attempts of a coup. However, President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was ousted from office a few hours later by a group of soldiers led by Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. A statement by Captain Sidsoré Kader Ouedraogo said the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration “has decided to assume its responsibilities before history”. Just eight days after the coup, the military restored civilian rule by installing Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba as the leader of the country. However, the military leaders that supported the January coup became dissatisfied with Damiba’s efforts and a new coup occurred under the leader of Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

Niger: July 2023

As the year headed past its halfway mark, many expected less in terms of military takeovers but that was not to be. Niger decided to join its neighbours and Francophone brothers Mali and Burkina Faso. The presidential guard, under the leadership of General Tchiani, seized power, bringing the tenure of President Mohamed Bazuom to an abrupt end. And just like in Burkina Faso and Mali, anti-France sentiments have been rife with the French ambassador asked to leave the country. ECOWAS threatened to intervene but has not yet acted as Mali and Burkina Faso threatened to support Niger’s army to fight against ECOWAS.

Gabon: August 2023

The surprising one on this role is the latest on the list. Yes, it is surprising because an election was held in the country just four days prior to the coup. The results of that election were even announced on the morning of the day of the coup. But just after the results came in declaring President Ali Bongo the winner, enabling him to extend his family’s 56-year grip on power, the military stepped in, annulling the results and taking over the reins of power.