Five African coups that have proven to be the most painful for its people

No continent has seen more military overthrows of governments than Africa. This may be a bitter pill to swallow, but it is a truth Africans and people of African descent must contend with.

In all, 40 of the continent’s 54 countries have had a change in government, at one point or more, via the barrel of the gun. The reasons for which these forced takeovers happen are varied from anything in Western imperialism to tribal identity.

The propensity to make governance nasty, brutish and short has cost Africans not only lives but time too.

Very little to no justification can be given to why a change of government should come via the whims of military men. However, with the benefit of hindsight, one may say that some overthrows seem more confusing than others.

In this list, we will take a look at coups that deposed either civilian or military governments who were not characteristically unpopular.

Data does not exist to gauge pre-coup approval ratings of African governments. But it may be said that wider and deeper reflections in the aftermath of some coups have shown that the people deposed were treated unfairly and with contempt.

The list is in no particular order.