Pulse Picks: Comprehensive overview of coup d'États recorded in Africa in 2023

From the sun-soaked deserts of Niger to the lush landscapes of Gabon, a series of coup d'états unfolded, shattering the political stability that nations had painstakingly built over the years.

This narrative unfolds against the backdrop of a turbulent year, weaving together the threads of coups in Niger and Gabon, protests in Burkina Faso, and a failed coup attempt in Sierra Leone. Together, these events paint a vivid tapestry of a region grappling with the complexities of power, democracy, and the persistent pursuit of stability amidst the storm of change.

Niger

In a tumultuous year for West Africa, a series of political upheavals and coups unfolded, leaving a trail of uncertainty and instability in the region. It all began on July 26, 2023, when Niger experienced a coup d'état. President Mohamed Bazoum was detained by the country's presidential guard, and General Abdourahamane Tchiani declared himself the leader of a new military junta.

This marked the fifth military coup since Niger gained independence in 1960 and the first since 2010. The international community, including the United States, France, and the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, condemned the coup. ECOWAS even threatened military intervention against the junta, setting the stage for what would be known as the 2023 Nigerien crisis.

Gabon

As the crisis unfolded in Niger, another coup rocked the region. On August 30, 2023, Gabon experienced a coup d'état shortly after the announcement of the general election results, which declared incumbent president Ali Bongo Ondimba as the winner. The coup marked the end of the 56-year-long rule of the Bongo family over Gabon. Notably, it was the eighth successful coup to occur in West and Central Africa since 2020.

Meanwhile, on September 27, protests erupted in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, against the rule of Captain Ibrahim Traoré who had overthrown President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. The junta claimed to have foiled a coup attempt by high-ranking security officers that night. This added another layer of complexity to the region's political landscape.

Sierra Leone

A third military overthrow was going to take the West African subregion by surprise, but the events took a different turn in Sierra Leone at the end of November. A failed coup attempt unfolded through a series of attacks on military barracks and prisons. Information Minister Chernor Bah confirmed that 13 military officers and one civilian were arrested.

At least 20 people were reported dead, and about 2,200 individuals escaped from attacked prisons. The government, determined to bring those responsible to justice, published photographs of individuals, including serving and retired soldiers and police, wanted in connection with the unrest.

The year 2023 became a defining period for West Africa, as political turmoil and military interventions reshaped the region's political map, leaving nations grappling with uncertainty and challenges in the pursuit of stability.

Meanwhile, security analysts have warned consistently that the endemic poverty, economic hardship, and high unemployment, among other factors, all of which are exacerbated by the failure of the political administrations of the African continent to give hope to citizens, make it prone to more coup d'états.