By Ademuyiwa Balikis
Africa’s map of military governments has expanded again, this time to Madagascar, after soldiers in the Indian Ocean nation seized power on Tuesday, dissolving parliament and suspending the constitution.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who led the coup alongside the elite CAPSAT unit, announced the takeover in Antananarivo after days of growing protests and tension over economic hardship, power shortages, and allegations of corruption.
The development makes it eight African countries now under military rule, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Guinea, Sudan, Gabon, and Madagascar.
The new coup adds to a trend that has steadily reshaped parts of the continent since 2020. From the Sahel to the Atlantic coast, elected governments have been pushed aside by military regimes promising to fix what their civilian predecessors failed to solve, insecurity, poverty, and political mistrust.
In the Sahel, soldiers have taken over in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, citing the failure of civilian leaders to defeat jihadist insurgencies. In Central Africa, Gabon’s army removed President Ali Bongo in 2023 after decades of family rule. Now, Madagascar joins the list, its soldiers claiming to act for the people.
Despite repeated condemnations from the African Union and ECOWAS, the momentum appears undeterred. Many of the juntas have even gained quiet acceptance from citizens who see them as a lesser evil compared to corrupt political elites.
While the methods and uniforms may look modern, the trend echoes a pattern from Africa’s early years of independence. Between 1959 and 1969, coup attempts swept across the continent, from Togo and Mali to Sierra Leone and Gabon. In that decade alone, more than 40 coups were attempted, with 25 succeeding.
Back then, weak institutions, ethnic rivalry, and Cold War interference were major triggers. Today, the forces are homegrown, insecurity, unemployment, collapsing infrastructure, and frustration with politics that rarely delivers results.
Regional analysts warn that the recent wave could signal a dangerous normalization of coups in Africa. With one country after another falling under military control, democratic systems are struggling to maintain credibility.
The return of coups on this scale marks a sharp departure from the democratic progress Africa made in the early 2000s, when military takeovers had sharply declined. Now, with eight nations under army control, many fear that the continent is once again sliding into an era where the sound of marching boots replaces the voice of the ballot box.
