2025 in Review: Recurring Coups and Mutinies in West Africa Shock the World

By Kepher Otieno - Reporter

Kenya, 23 December 2025 - In 2025, as the year draws to a close, West Africa’s political landscape has been thrust into the limelight.

Millions of people across the globe are asking why the region has been repeatedly rocked by coups and attempted coups.

The attempted seizure of power in Benin on 7 December 2025 offered both a dramatic spectacle and a revealing window into the fragility of democratic governance.

On that morning, a small faction of soldiers calling themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” appeared on state television, announcing that President Patrice Talon had been removed and state institutions dissolved.

Their grievances included worsening security in northern Benin and perceived neglect of frontline troops and their families.

Within hours, however, loyalist forces, aided by regional partners, regained control and restored order.

President Talon addressed the nation, praising the army’s loyalty: “I commend our armed forces and their leaders for remaining republican and loyal to the nation. Their commitment allowed us to thwart these adventurers and save our country.” He vowed that those involved would face justice, describing the mutiny as “treachery.”

The episode highlighted the critical role of regional support. Benin’s request for assistance prompted Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to deploy Air Force jets, helping to dislodge the mutinous soldiers from strategic positions.

ECOWAS and the African Union condemned the attempt as a violation of democracy and the will of the people.

Standby forces from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast were mobilised to reinforce Benin’s security, signaling the continued importance of collective regional mechanisms.

Yet Benin’s near-crisis was not an isolated case. Earlier in 2025, Mali’s military claimed to foil a planned coup, arresting officers accused of destabilising the regime.

Guinea-Bissau and Burkina Faso also reported mutinies and unrest within security forces. Across the region, these events reveal a persistent pattern: coups and attempted coups may not always succeed, but they remain a recurring threat, reflecting deep-seated political and institutional vulnerabilities.

Analysts point to several drivers behind these repeated crises. Chronic security challenges, weak governance, and discontent within the military create conditions ripe for power grabs. Political polarisation and limited avenues for civilian dissent further exacerbate instability.

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In many cases, leaders’ failure to address troop welfare and morale leaves states vulnerable to internal rebellion.

The Benin incident underscores the delicate balance between resilience and vulnerability. While the rapid neutralisation of the mutiny demonstrated that loyalist forces and regional allies can protect constitutional order, the underlying discontent that fueled the plot remains unaddressed.

UN officials have warned that without structural reforms and attention to grievances, even successful interventions may only offer temporary stability.

Regional leaders have framed these events as stress tests for democracy. Tinubu praised the Nigerian military for defending constitutional order under the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

Similarly, Talon’s public emphasis on loyalty to the state is both reassurance and deterrent—aimed at marginalizing anti-democratic actors while strengthening institutional confidence.

Despite swift restorations of order, recurrent attempted coups reveal a structural reality that West Africa’s democratic institutions remain fragile, often challenged by social, economic, and security pressures.

While the rapid response in Benin may bolster public confidence, grievances within the military and broader society suggest that the root causes of instability persist.

The failed coups of 2025—Benin, Mali, and elsewhere—serve as both warning and opportunity.

They demonstrate that regional solidarity and loyal security forces can protect democracy, but they also remind leaders and citizens that stability requires more than reactive measures.

Addressing the grievances of security forces, investing in institutional capacity, and maintaining channels for dialogue between civilian authorities and the military are essential if West Africa hopes to reduce the recurring threat of coups.

For now, the region remains tense, watching as governments, militaries, and regional bodies navigate the challenge of preserving democracy while managing discontent.

The question is stark: can West Africa break the cycle of attempted power grabs, or will coups continue to haunt its political landscape for years to come?