A-Z 200 coups that have taken place in African countries

The question is when will major state actors in Africa stop planning coup?

The news of another coup in Zimbabwe on Wednesday, November 15, 2017, made many people to exclaim, is 200 coup d’états not enough as the threshold.

Since 1952, when Muhammad Naguib overthrows Farouk of Egypt to stage the first forceful seizure of power, the black continent has gone on to dislodge the West in a game we learnt from their books. Between 1960 and now, Africa has seen at least 200 successful and failed coups. Some bloodless while many led to loss of lives.

Many political analysts have argued that the ingredients to stir coups are basic features of many African states. Some of which includes corruption, bad governance, high level of citizens’ agitations and vast social inequality.

Spread of coup d'état in Africa since 1945.
(Pinterest)

Except for the southern part of Africa that seems not to have flair for the practice, coup is a common attribute in the history of many African countries. For example, in Guinea-Bissau no president has completed a full term since the country’s independence in 1974, all thanks to coup.

Here are African countries and the highest number of coups that taken place in them

Burkina Faso – 10

The Burkina babes have endured 10 coup d’etat between 1966 and 2017. The last in the country happened on October 8, 2016, when Col. Blaise Compaore loyalists and former presidential guards failed to overthrow President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.

With the first coup January 3, 1966, there is hardly no decade without forceful seizure of power in the West African country. Between 1980 and 1989, the country experienced six different coup d’états.

Nigeria – 8

Just like Burkina Faso, Nigeria experienced four coup d’état within a period of ten years (1966-1975). The first shot was taken on January 15, 1966, and since then the practice has almost become a vicious cycle for the country’s military.

Between 1970 and 1996, there is no administration or regime in the country that did not experience a coup, either successful or otherwise. In all, the country experienced the two unsuccessful coups in its history, the first was by Buka Suka Dimka on February 13, 1976 and second on April 22, 1990 by Gideon Orkar.

Burundi – 6

Burundi is another African country that has witnessed a coup d’état in the last five years, although it was unsuccessful - coup d'état led by General Godefroid Niyombare against President Pierre Nkurunziza between May 13 and 15, 2015.

For the country, the first and second happened within six months (July 8, 1966, and November 28, 1966). A fashion like that of Nigeria.

Chad - 6

The desert nation of Chad has also experienced many coup d’état since its independence in August 1960. The country’s first coup happened on April 13, 1975, when François Tombalbaye was overthrown by Noël Milarew Odingar.

Since then, there have been successive coups in the country. President Idriss Déby has also witnessed three unsuccessful coups against his government.

The first being on May 16, 2004, and the last on May 1, 2013.

Ghana - 6

The gold coast country, Ghana, had its first president, Kwame Nkrumah, overthrown by a coup in 1966 by General Joseph Arthur Ankrah. Between then and 1979, three coups were planned to change government, especially during the military regimes.

Air Marshal Jerry John Rawlings Rtd, a former president of Ghana, executed two successive coups within three years (June 4, 1979, and December 31, 1981) to depose governments he adjudged to be corrupt.

Other countries with a high number of coups include Comoros (6), Mauritania (6) and Sudan (6).