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FULL LIST: Most Attempted, Successful Coups In African Countries (1950-2023)

FULL LIST: Most Attempted, Successful Coups In African Countries (1950-2023)
  • PublishedDecember 9, 2025

Here is a list of the most attempted, successful coups In African Countries from 1950 to 2023.

1. Sudan ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฉ
Attempted: 18
Successful: 6

2. Burundi ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฎ
Attempted: 11
Successful: 5

3. Burkina Faso ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ซ
Attempted: 10
Successful: 9

4. Ghana ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ญ
Attempted: 10
Successful: 5

5. Sierra Leone ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฑ
Attempted: 10
Successful: 5

6. Comoros ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฒ
Attempted: 9
Successful: 4

7. Guinea-Bissau ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ผ
Attempted: 9
Successful: 4

8. Benin ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฏ
Attempted: 8
Successful: 6

9. Nigeria ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ
Attempted: 8
Successful: 6*

10. Mali ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฑ
Attempted: 8
Successful: 5

11. Niger ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ช
Attempted: 8
Successful: 5

12. Togo ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฌ
Attempted: 7
Successful: 3

13. DR Congo ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฉ
Attempted: 7
Successful: 2

14. Chad ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฉ
Attempted: 7
Successful: 2

15. Mauritania ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ท
Attempted: 7
Successful: 5

The January 1966 coup in Nigeria, is counted as successful because it terminated democracy, even though the plotters couldnโ€™t take power.

It also marked the beginning of military coups in Nigeria.