ACCRA, Ghana — The year 2025 underscored the persistent fragility of constitutional rule across Africa, as elections unfolded alongside attempted coups, entrenched military regimes, and simmering political tensions. While some mutinies were quickly contained, others reshaped national politics and deepened concerns about the durability of democratic gains.
Guinea‑Bissau: Election Interrupted
In November 2025, Guinea‑Bissau’s presidential election was derailed when armed men destroyed key voting materials, halting the process. Security forces later moved against President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, seizing institutions and suspending results. The intervention drew swift condemnation from regional and international actors, adding yet another chapter to Guinea‑Bissau’s troubled history of interrupted democratic transitions.
Benin: Failed Coup Attempt
In December 2025, soldiers briefly claimed to have ousted President Patrice Talon, announcing his removal on national television. Loyalist forces quickly regained control, arresting the ringleaders and stressing that constitutional order remained intact. Authorities framed the episode as an isolated mutiny rather than a full‑scale coup, but the incident highlighted vulnerabilities within Benin’s military ranks.
Côte d’Ivoire: Pre‑Election Tensions
Ahead of Côte d’Ivoire’s October 2025 presidential election, reports of unrest and discontent within parts of the security forces raised fears of instability. Officials insisted that suspected plots would be contained and the electoral calendar maintained, but the tense atmosphere underscored lingering anxieties about military interference in politics.
Sahel Juntas: Entrenched Power
In the Sahel, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger did not witness new coups in 2025, but their military rulers — who seized power in earlier years — deepened cooperation through joint anti‑insurgency initiatives. Critics argue these regimes are normalising long‑term military governance, delaying transitions, and shrinking civic space. Analysts warn that the line between civilian and military rule is increasingly blurred.
A Year of Fragile Gains
Taken together, 2025 revealed both the resilience and fragility of African democracies. Failed takeovers, like Benin’s, exposed institutional weaknesses, while successful or prolonged military rule in Guinea‑Bissau and the Sahel reshaped political life. For many citizens, the danger lay not only in tanks on city streets but in the gradual acceptance of soldiers as permanent political actors rather than temporary guardians of the state.