Coup contagion? A rash of African power grabs suggests copycats are taking note of others’ success

By: Salah Ben Hammou, Rice University and Jonathan Powell, University of Kentucky, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: December 15, 2025

Words: 1,491

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 6 days ago

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By Salah Ben Hammou, Rice University and Jonathan Powell, University of Kentucky

In a scene that has become familiar across parts of Africa of late, a group of armed men in military garb appeared on state TV on Dec. 7, 2025, to announce that they had suspended the constitution and seized control.

This time it was the West African nation of Benin, and the coup was relatively short-lived, with the government regaining full control …

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