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Coups in Francophone Africa in past three years – a timeline

By The Africa Report

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Posted on August 30, 2023 12:32

Colonel Sadiba Koulibaly (L) and Colonel Mamady Doumbouya (R), coup leaders in Guinea. (©JA Montage: John Wessels/AFP/All rights reserved)
Colonel Sadiba Koulibaly (L) and Colonel Mamady Doumbouya (R), coup leaders in Guinea. (©JA Montage: John Wessels/AFP/All rights reserved)

Eight governments have been overthrown in Francophone African countries in the past three years.

A group of former French colonies, with a previous reputation for military takeovers, have lapsed once more into 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 coup makers is a failure to spread the national wealth beyond a small handful of families.

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