What’s behind the wave of military coups in Africa? | DW News Africa

Another African leader toppled by the Army – whose turn will it be next? The fall of Gabon’s leader Ali Bongo has rattled the Continent’s autocrats and democrats alike. Cameroon and Rwanda both made hurried changes to their top military within hours of the coup in Libreville. And they have good reason to be nervous: Since World War Two, 45 of the continent’s 54 countries have suffered attempted coups, and military takeovers are on the rise again now. The coup in Gabon is just the latest in a string of recent military takeovers on the African continent. Five other countries in the region have also seen coups. Most recently in Niger last month. In 2022, Burkina Faso saw two putsches in less than nine months. In 2021, Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdulla Hamdok was ousted by military force, the same year Guinea and Mali experienced their own coups d’états.