Numerous elections in Africa made headlines in 2025, as well as military takeovers and some coups, which were just as important aspects of the continent’s political climate. There are a few parts of Africa where vulnerability of constitutional governance has been brought to light by armed interventions, which ranged from successful power seizures to quickly put down mutinies.
Guinea‑Bissau – November 2025
The presidential election in Guinea-Bissau on November 23, 2025, was halted when armed individuals confiscated and destroyed important election materials.
Regional and international actors swiftly condemned the security forces’ actions against President Umaro Sissoco Embaló on November 26 and 27, when they seized control of institutions and stopped the results announcement.
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The incident left the political atmosphere tense and unpredictable until late December and added another chapter to Guinea-Bissau’s lengthy history of disrupted democratic transitions.
Benin – December 2025
In Benin, a group of soldiers briefly claimed to have overthrown the government in early December, using the national broadcaster to announce that President Patrice Talon had been deposed. Loyal forces quickly retook control, arrested the suspected ringleaders and described the events as a failed coup attempt with no broad backing in the army. Authorities stressed that constitutional order and day‑to‑day governance remained in place, presenting the episode as an isolated challenge rather than a full‑blown power shift.
Côte d’Ivoire – Tensions around the polls
In Côte d’Ivoire, security concerns and political tensions sharpened in the run‑up to the October 2025 presidential election, amid periodic reports of unrest and discontent within parts of the security forces. Officials insisted that any suspected plots or indiscipline would be contained and that the electoral calendar would proceed, but the atmosphere underlined how anxieties about military involvement in politics persist across the region even without a declared coup.
Sahel juntas – No new coups, entrenched rule
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger did not experience fresh coups in 2025, but all three remained under military juntas that had seized power in earlier years.
Their leaders deepened security cooperation, including joint anti‑insurgency initiatives, while facing ongoing criticism over delayed transitions, shrinking civic space and the absence of new electoral mandates.
Analysts argue that these entrenched regimes blur the line between military and civilian governance by normalising long‑term army rule without clear democratic renewal.
A year of fragile gains
Taken together, the year underscored that coups and coup attempts remain a real and evolving threat in Africa, even as many countries continue to hold regular elections.
Failed takeovers, like the one in Benin, still reveal deep institutional weaknesses, while successful or prolonged military rule in places such as Guinea‑Bissau and the Sahel reshapes political life and raises questions about the durability of democratic gains.
For many citizens, the danger in 2025 lay not only in tanks appearing on city streets, but also in the gradual acceptance of soldiers as permanent political actors rather than temporary guardians of the state.
