Benin’s Short-Lived Coup and the Wave of Military Takeovers Across West Africa Since 2020

Benin has become the latest nation in West Africa to face a military takeover attempt. The putsch unfolded on a Sunday when a group of soldiers appeared on state television to announce the removal of President Patrice Talon and the dissolution of state institutions. Hours later, authorities said the attempt had been foiled.

What Happened in Benin

Soldiers who called themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation announced on state TV that President Patrice Talon had been removed and named Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri as the head of the committee. Interior Minister Alassane Seidou later posted a video online saying the plot had been suppressed, calling the action "a mutiny intended to destabilize the state and its institutions" and stressing that the armed forces remained "committed to the republic."

Timeline: Recent Coups and Attempts in Africa

Mali — August 2020 and May 2021

Mali experienced two successive coups beginning in August 2020. Soldiers detained senior officials after widespread civilian protests against then-President Ibrahim Keïta. Col. Assimi Goïta emerged as the dominant military figure, first entering a transitional arrangement that installed a civilian president and later removing that civilian leader to assume full control. Goïta subsequently postponed planned elections and consolidated power.

Chad — April 2021

After the death of longtime leader Idriss Déby in 2021, his son Mahamat Idriss Déby, an army general, quickly took control through a military council. He promised a transition to civilian rule and later held elections that opponents labeled neither free nor fair. The government has since cracked down on critics and prominent opposition figures.

Guinea — September 2021

Soldiers led by Mamady Doumbouya removed President Alpha Condé, who had changed the constitution in 2020 to seek a third term. Doumbouya has sought to move from military leader to elected president after a referendum allowed junta members to run for office and extended the presidential term length.

Sudan — October 2021

The October 2021 coup in Sudan overthrew the civilian-led transitional government that had been formed after Omar al-Bashir's removal in 2019. Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan shared authority with Muhammad "Hemedti" Dagalo, head of the Rapid Support Forces. Tensions between those forces escalated into a devastating conflict that erupted into full-scale fighting in April 2023 and remains unresolved.

Burkina Faso — January and September 2022

Burkina Faso underwent two coups in 2022. In January, Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba ousted President Roch Kaboré; in September, Capt. Ibrahim Traoré replaced Damiba, citing worsening security. Traoré's government later dissolved the independent electoral commission as it tightened control.

Niger — July 2023

Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, ending a recent democratic transfer of power. The takeover provoked a major crisis with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which threatened intervention. Niger later aligned politically with Mali and Burkina Faso, forming a breakaway bloc opposed to ECOWAS pressure.

Gabon — August 2023

Soon after President Ali Bongo was declared the winner of a contested election, soldiers announced a coup on television, annulled the vote and dissolved state institutions. Brice Oligui Nguema, a senior officer and relative of Bongo, assumed control and was later declared the winner of a subsequent presidential contest.

Madagascar — October 2025

Mass protests by young people over chronic water shortages and power outages confronted President Andry Rajoelina, who dissolved his government rather than resign. That standoff preceded a military takeover in the island nation.

Guinea-Bissau — November 2025

Soldiers seized power days after a disputed presidential election, prompting allegations the coup was staged to prevent an incumbent loss. Both the sitting president and a main opposition candidate claimed victory in the contested vote; the deposed president was later allowed to leave the country.

Why These Coups Matter

These recent coups and attempts reveal recurring drivers: contested elections or constitutional changes that extend leaders' terms, deepening security crises—especially in the Sahel—and widespread public frustration, particularly among young people. The spread of military rule in parts of West Africa has reshaped regional alliances and complicated diplomatic and economic pressure from blocs such as ECOWAS and the international community.

Bottom line: Benin’s quickly foiled coup fits a broader regional pattern. While each country’s context differs, the wave of military interventions since 2020 underscores persistent governance, security and legitimacy challenges across the region.