Full list: African coups in the last five years

Niger coup leaders

A military coup attempt in Benin on Sunday adds to a string of such incidents across Africa.

A group of soldiers announced that they had ousted President Patrice Talon, although his entourage said he was safe and the army was regaining control.

Here is a recap of the successful coups on the continent over the last five years:

Mali
Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was overthrown by five army colonels in August 2020.

In May 2021, the Malian military took over from civilian leaders of an interim government.

Colonel Assimi Goita, who led both coups, was sworn in as transitional president.

After promising elections in February 2024, the military postponed them indefinitely, citing jihadist violence.

In July 2025, Goita approved a law granting himself a five-year presidential mandate, renewable without election.

In September, jihadists launched a fuel blockade, weakening the ruling junta.

Guinea
On September 5, 2021, mutinous troops led by Lieutenant-Colonel Mamady Doumbouya seized power, arresting President Alpha Condé.

Doumbouya submitted his candidacy in early November 2025 ahead of December 28 elections intended to restore constitutional order.

Sudan
After weeks of tension between military and civilian leaders who had shared power since the ousting of dictator Omar al-Bashir, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan staged a coup on October 25, 2021.

Since April 2023, war has raged between the regular armed forces led by Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by his former deputy, Mohammed Hamdan Daglo.