According to reports, there have been nine coups in Africa since 2020. Reportedly, Mali was the first, followed by another coup against the interim government in 2021; 2021 also saw coups in Mali, Chad and against the civilian military government in Sudan. Burkina Faso staged two coups in 2022 and 2023, and 2023 saw coups in Niger and Gabon. There have been four coup attempts in other african nations, most with public support. According to the report, at the heart of the discontent that has surfaced as support for coups are hard economic factors and corrupt administrations culminating in a deepening inequality and mistrust of the elite.
Reportedly, public support for elections are on the decline, according to an african political analyst, citizens of african countries are not seeing the dividends of democracy. With regard to democratic values, is it democracy if people do not have a choice?