Just a month after becoming Mali President in 2013, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita declared that the days of mutinous soldiers undermining government authority in the capital, Bamako, were over. Yet, seven years later, Keita himself was toppled, facing the very fate he had vowed to prevent.
On 18 August 2020, a military coup marked the start of a new era of military rule in Mali. Following Keita’s ouster, his son’s home was ransacked, and thousands of Malians gathered in Bamako’s Independence Square on 21 August to celebrate.
Former defence minister and retired Colonel Bah Ndaw was appointed interim president on 21 September 2020, with junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita named vice president under a power-sharing agreement brokered to appease the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Nine months later, soldiers loyal to Goita overthrew Ndaw, and Goita was sworn in as transitional president on 7 June 2021.
Following coups in Chad and Guinea, Burkina Faso President Roch Kabore was detained on 23 January 2022. The next day, the army announced Kabore’s removal, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government and national assembly. Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was declared transitional president.
Just a few months later on 2 October, 2022, Damiba was ousted by another group of soldiers, with Captain Ibrahim Traore appointed transitional president. Thousands took to the streets to celebrate.
Over in Niger, Niger President Mohamed Bazoum was detained on 26 July 2023 in his presidential palace and removed from office by a group of soldiers. Pro-coup supporters set fire to vehicles and buildings at his party office. ECOWAS imposed economic and travel sanctions on Niger’s new military leaders, warning that force could be used if Bazoum was not restored within a week.
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger later celebrated the full withdrawal of French troops from Niger and reaffirmed their commitment to a shared future under a military and economic alliance.
On 29 January 2025, ECOWAS officially confirmed the three countries’ exit from the bloc.
In Guinea-Bissau, voters lined up on 23 November 2025 for general elections, but on 26 November, a group of army officers seized power a day before the results were expected, suspended the electoral process, and formed the High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order.
Major-General Horta Inta-a was installed as transitional president on 27 November 2025, with a one-year mandate.
On 1 December, ECOWAS leaders visited the country to urge the military to restore constitutional order and release the election results.
On 7 December 2025, a group of soldiers in Benin appeared on state television, announcing they had taken power, suspended the constitution, and criticised President Patrice Talon’s government. The interior minister later confirmed that the armed forces had foiled the coup attempt and retained control.
These events mark the latest in a series of military takeovers across West Africa in recent years, highlighting persistent challenges to democratic governance in the region.
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has accused the U.S. of preventing Iranian supporters from attending the country's World Cup ...
Iran and Israel said on Monday (8 June) they had halted attacks on each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Axios reported...
The United States has added some of China's biggest technology and automotive companies, including Alibaba, Baidu, BYD and Nio, to a Pentagon list of ...
The Democratic Republic of Congo's latest Ebola outbreak has claimed more than 100 lives, with health authorities warning that armed conflict and atta...
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been denied entry to the United States, preventing him from taking part in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and ending...
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has accused the U.S. of preventing Iranian supporters from attending the country's World Cup matches after its allocation of tickets was withdrawn just days before the tournament begins.
Iran and Israel said on Monday (8 June) they had halted attacks on each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Axios reported that Trump had privately told Benjamin Netanyahu “be careful, or you will be on your own very soon”.
The United States has added some of China's biggest technology and automotive companies, including Alibaba, Baidu, BYD and Nio, to a Pentagon list of firms it believes are linked to Beijing's military.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's latest Ebola outbreak has claimed more than 100 lives, with health authorities warning that armed conflict and attacks on aid workers are hindering efforts to contain the disease.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party has won the Armenian elections, picking up nearly half the vote. With a majority in parliament, Pashinyan is set for a third term as Prime Minister. But an opposition politican has said he will challenge the election results.
The results of Armenia’s parliamentary elections will determine the makeup of the National Assembly and shape the country's political direction for the foreseeable future. But in Armenia, the final result is not decided by vote percentages alone. Here's how it works.
Barcelona is preparing to mark a historic milestone in the legacy of architect Antoni Gaudí as Pope Leo XIV visits the city this week to inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família basilica, almost exactly 100 years after the visionary architect’s death.
Iran and Israel have halted strikes on each other, but Tehran has warned it will recommence attacks if Israel continues military action in Lebanon. U.S. President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun have meanwhile made pleas for peace.
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has accused the U.S. of preventing Iranian supporters from attending the country's World Cup matches after its allocation of tickets was withdrawn just days before the tournament begins.
The United States has added some of China's biggest technology and automotive companies, including Alibaba, Baidu, BYD and Nio, to a Pentagon list of firms it believes are linked to Beijing's military.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's latest Ebola outbreak has claimed more than 100 lives, with health authorities warning that armed conflict and attacks on aid workers are hindering efforts to contain the disease.
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been denied entry to the United States, preventing him from taking part in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and ending what would have been a historic moment for Somali football.
The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, has been suspended pending a vote by member states on whether he should be removed from office, following an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.
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