There have been eight governments overthrown in Francophone Africa countries in the last three years.

A group of former colonies, with a previous reputation for military takeovers, have lapsed once once more in the repeated coups.

The addition of Gabon to the list of recidivists will alarm long-term holdouts like Cameroon’s Paul Biya part of the grievances of the coups makers is a failure to spread the national wealth beyond a small handful of families.

GABON – August 2023

Military officers announced on Wednesday 30 August overturning the government in Gabon, in an apparent coup targeting President Ali Bongo Ondimba who has been in power for 14 years whose re-election was just announced.

NIGER – July 2023

On 26 July, soldiers of the presidential guard barricaded President Mohamed Bazoum into his palace and gave an ultimatum. The coup surprised the international community, which had assumed Niger to be the most secure of the vulnerable Sahelien nations, with a well-organised and funded military.

The regional body ECOWAS at first threatened military action but has since preferred to attempt a diplomatic resolution. President Bazoum remans a prisoner.

BURKINA FASO – January 2022 + September 2022

The President of Burkina Faso Roch Kabore was toppled by soldiers who blamed him for falling to secure the country against Islamic militants.

Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba tool charge but was himself ousted in a coup by Captain Traore, the current leader.

GUINEA – September 2021

The elder statesman, President Alpha Conde, was kicked out by special forces commander Colonel Mamady Doumbouya in a coup triggered by Conde’s manipulation of presidential terms limits.

The junta has not delivered a clear timetable for the resumption of democratic rule.

CHAD – April 2021

Fighting to beat back a rebel threat to his regime, President Idriss Derby was killed in the frontline. A special military council stepped in to take over, despite the constitution earmarking the speaker for the role. Derby’s son General Mahamat Idriss Deby dully stepped into the presidential role.

MALI – August 2020 + May 2021

With Presidential Ibrahim Boubacar Keita accused of corruption and failure to secure the north, a group of army colonels headed by Assimi Goita stepped in to relieve him of his office. After a second coup, Goita took the presidency for himself.

After pressure from regional body ECOWAS, and as agreement to suspend, Mali is on track to hold presidential elections in May 2024.