page_title: African military systems after 1900
section_title: Coups and counter-coups
hierarchical_section_title: African military systems after 1900 / Decolonization / Coups and counter-coups
caption_attribution_description: A C-130 departed Abuja, Nigeria Oct. 28 with approximately 40 Nigerian troops and 3,000 pounds of equipment for the El-Fashir airstrip in Sudan's Darfur region marking the beginning of the airlift mission of African Union protection forces to the troubled region. More than 120 active-duty and reserve U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen and two C-130 Hercules aircraft deployed to Kigali , Rwanda , from Europe Oct. 22 to set up operations in support of the African Union airlift mission. One of the C-130s arrived in Nigeria Oct. 27 in preparation for the Nigerian troops' airlift. The C-130's will continue to airlift additional African Union forces into the region over the next two weeks.
context_page_description: As the 20th century began, most of Africa, with the exception of Ethiopia, Somalia and Liberia, was under colonial rule. By the 1980s, most nations were independent. Military systems reflect this evolution in several ways:
  Growth of indigenous knowledge and skill in handling modern arms
  Established colonial armies of mainly indigenous troops officered by Europeans
  Rebellions, resistance and "mop up" operations
  Weakening of European colonial power due to World War I and World War II
  Decolonization and the transition to the militaries of the new African states
  Wars of national liberation across the continent particularly the northern and southern regions
  Frequent tribal or civil wars across the continent
  Frequent military coups against the post colonial regimes
  Continued strength of regional powers like Egypt and South Africa
  The rise of asymmetric forces and failed states
  The rise of international forces and bureaucracies
  Continued challenges and evolution into the 21st century
  Below are the major activities and events that shaped African military systems into the 20th and 21st century.
context_section_description: 1952
  Egyptian Revolution.
  1960
  Force Publique mutiny in the Congo.
  Katanga secedes from the Congo.
  South Kasai secedes from the Congo.
  1961
  Overthrow and arrest of Patrice Lumumba by Mobutu Sese Seko.
  1963
  Military coup in Togo.
  1964
  Simba Rebellion in the Congo.
  1965
  Mobutu Sese Seko launches a successful second coup in the Congo.
  Houari Boumédienne seizes power in Algeria.
  1966
  First Kisangani Mutiny in the Congo.
  Jean-Bédel Bokassa stages the a coup in the Central African Republic.
  1967
  Second Kisangani Mutiny in the Congo.
  Military officers in Ghana attempt an unsuccessful coup d'etat (code named Operation Guitar Boy) that results in the assassination of Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka.
  Yakubu Gowon comes to power through a coup in Nigeria.
  1969
  Muammar al-Gaddafi, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Libyan army, stages a coup to oust  king Idris of Libya and installs himself as "Leader and Guide of the Revolution."
  Military coup in Somalia
  Military coup in the Sudan.
  1970s – warfare in southern Africa
  1971
  Idi Amin seizes power through a coup in Uganda.
  1972
  Ignatius Kutu Acheampong overthrows the democratically elected government of Ghana.
  1974
  The Derg, a communist military junta, seizes power in Ethiopia.
  1975
  French mercenary Bob Denard deposes Ahmed Abdallah of the Comoros.
  Murtala Mohammed seizes power from Yakubu Gowon in Nigeria.
  A coup in Chad overthrows the government of François Tombalbaye.
  1976
  A failed coup in Nigeria results in the death of Murtala Mohammed and the rise to power of Olusegun Obasanjo.
  1979
  Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings seizes power in Ghana.
  1980
  Coup by Master Sergeant Samuel Doe in Liberia.
  Coup in Guinea Bissau.
  1981
  Kukoi Sanyang leads a failed coup attempt in The Gambia.
  Jerry John Rawlings leads a second coup in Ghana.
  Failed coup attempt by British mercenary Mike Hoare in the Seychelles.
  The Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army launches the 1981 Entumbane Uprising.
  1982
  Members of the Kenyan Air Force lead a failed coup attempt in that country.
  1983
  Military coup in Nigeria. Second republic president Shagari overthrown; Muhammadu Buhari takes power.
  1984
  Cameroonian Palace Guard Revolt
  Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya raise to power in Mauritania after a coup that overthrow the president Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla.
  1985
  Military coup in Uganda led by Bazilio Olara-Okello and Tito Okello.
  Military coup in Nigeria. Ibrahim Babangida replaces Muhammadu Buhari.
  1987
  Bloodless coup in Tunisia led by Prime Minister General Zine El Abidine Ben Ali overthrows President Habib Bourguiba.
  1990
  Samuel Doe is captured and killed by INPFL rebels in Liberia led by Prince Johnson.
  1992
  Military coup in Algeria cancels elections and forces President to resign.
  1994
  Military coup in The Gambia.
  1999
  Military coup in Côte d'Ivoire.
  2003
  Military coup in Central African Republic.
  Attempted coup in Mauritania.
  Military coup in São Tomé and Príncipe.
  Military coup in Guinea-Bissau.
  2004
  Attempted coup in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  Failed coup d'état in Chad against President Idriss Déby.
  Second attempted coup in the Democratic Republic of Congo (June).
  Attempted coup in Equatorial Guinea by South African mercenaries Nick du Toit and Simon Mann.
  2005
  Coup in Togo legalized by parliamentary vote but unrecognized by international community.
  A military coup in Mauritania overthrows President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya. A new government is set up by a group of military officers headed by Ely Ould Mohamed Vall. The group formed the Military Council for Justice and Democracy to act as the governing council of the country.
  2006
  The United Front for Democratic Change allegedly attempted to instigate a military coup in Chad to overthrow President Idriss Déby.
  The Malagasy Popular Armed Forces allegedly attempt a military coup in Madagascar against President Marc Ravalomanana.
  The military of Côte d'Ivoire claims to foil a coup attempt targeting President Laurent Gbagbo.
  2008
  A military coup in Mauritania involving the seizure of the president, prime minister, and interior minister after the sackin
caption: Nigerian troops with a US C-130 Hercules
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