
Faith Nyasuguta
In Africa’s political history, several leaders rose to power through coups d’état, only to meet the same fate themselves. Their stories reveal a tumultuous landscape marked by power struggles, betrayals, and the cycles of leadership that often led to instability. Below are some of the most notable cases.
THOMAS SANKARA 🇧🇫

In 1983, Thomas Sankara became Burkina Faso’s president following a coup against Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo. Charismatic and progressive, Sankara introduced sweeping reforms in healthcare, education, and women’s rights. However, his ideals clashed with vested interests, and in 1987, his close ally Blaise Compaoré orchestrated a coup that led to his assassination, marking a tragic end to his revolutionary vision.
BLAISE COMPAORÉ 🇧🇫

Compaoré ruled Burkina Faso for 27 years after ousting Sankara. His tenure ended in 2014 when mass protests forced him to flee to Ivory Coast. His ouster showcased the growing power of public dissent against entrenched leadership in Africa.
YAHYA JAMMEH 🇬🇲

Jammeh seized power in The Gambia through a 1994 coup and ruled for 22 years. Losing the 2016 election, he refused to step down, prompting a military intervention by ECOWAS forces in 2017, which ultimately removed him.
YAKUBU GOWON 🇳🇬

In 1966, Yakubu Gowon emerged as Nigeria’s leader after a coup ousted Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi. His reign lasted until 1975 when he himself was overthrown by Brigadier General Murtala Mohammed.
MUHAMMADU BUHARI 🇳🇬

Buhari became Nigeria’s leader in 1983 following a coup against Shehu Shagari. His strict regime ended abruptly in 1985 when General Ibrahim Babangida staged another coup, ousting him.
IGNATIUS KUTU ACHEAMPONG 🇬🇭

Acheampong rose to power in Ghana through a 1972 coup, ousting Kofi Busia. In 1978, a palace coup led by Fred Akuffo removed him. He was later executed in 1979 during a period of political purges.
FRED AKUFFO 🇬🇭

Akuffo, who overthrew Acheampong, ruled briefly before being ousted in 1979 by Jerry John Rawlings. Like his predecessor, Akuffo was executed, marking another violent chapter in Ghana’s leadership changes.
IDI AMIN 🇺🇬

Amin came to power in Uganda in 1971, ousting Milton Obote. Known for his brutal rule, he was overthrown in 1979 by Tanzanian forces and Ugandan exiles. Amin fled into exile, ending his reign of terror.
MOBUTU SESE SEKO 🇨🇩

Mobutu took control of the Congo (later Zaire) in 1965, overthrowing Joseph Kasavubu. He ruled for over three decades before Laurent-Désiré Kabila’s rebellion ousted him in 1997. Mobutu’s fall symbolized the decline of Cold War-era dictatorships in Africa.
VALENTINE STRASSER 🇸🇱

Strasser became Sierra Leone’s leader at just 25 after a 1992 coup. His deputy, Julius Maada Bio, ousted him in 1996, demonstrating how alliances in power can quickly unravel.
PAUL-HENRI SANDAOGO DAMIBA 🇧🇫

Damiba overthrew Roch Kaboré in Burkina Faso’s January 2022 coup, but his tenure was short-lived. By September 2022, Captain Ibrahim Traoré staged a coup, removing him from power in a dramatic reversal.
MOHAMED SIAD BARRE 🇸🇴

Barre seized Somalia’s presidency in 1969 following a coup. His rule ended in 1991 when rebel forces ousted him, plunging Somalia into a prolonged period of instability and civil war.
MURTALA MUHAMMED 🇳🇬

Muhammed became Nigeria’s leader in 1975 through a coup against Yakubu Gowon. His tenure was cut short in 1976 when he was assassinated during another coup attempt.
FRANÇOIS BOZIZÉ 🇨🇫

Bozizé took power in the Central African Republic in 2003 through a coup, only to be ousted in 2013 by the Seleka rebel group. His fall highlighted the persistent volatility in the region.
This cycle of coups reflects the instability that has plagued African politics for decades. While some leaders sought genuine reforms, many succumbed to the same power struggles that brought them to office, leaving legacies as warnings for future generations.
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