Omar Al-Bashir: Ten African Leaders That Have Been Toppled From Government

In light of the newest development in Sudan where the longest-serving ruler in the country, Omar Al-Bashir was ousted by the military after his “unfair” rulings, we have decided to look at ten African leaders who have suffered the same fate. Coup and government toppling seems to be on a high rise in the continent as compared to others and this calls for a moment of reflection as to why Africa experiences this situation? A government whose mandate was handed on to them with the hope that they would channel their energy into the progression of the nation’s economy and growth, only to neglect this role and focus entirely on something else. To the extent that the people got tired of their rulings and decided to take justice into their hands, Africa has seen quite enough of this unfortunate and appalling incident, so find below the list of ten out of many other African leaders who have been toppled from the government over one reason or the other.

  • Blaise Compaore: Born on the 3rd of February 1951, Blaise was a notable Burkinabe politician in Burkina Faso. So formidable he ruled the country for 27 years from 1987 to 2014. He became the president after he led a coup to kill ex-president Thomas Sankara who was his top associate. He resigned and fled to Ivory Coast after there was an uprising against his attempt to amend the constitution to help him extend his ruling period.
  • François Bozizé Yangouvonda: Francois was the president of Central Africa Republic from 2003 to 2013, he was born on the 14th of October, 1946. He gained power after he toppled ex-president Ange-Felix Patasse in 2003. He was the ruler from 2003 till 2013 when some rebel forces forced him to flee the country after he was accused of not promoting peace in the Nation. 
  • Mohamed Morsi: President of Egypt known for his constitutional declaration that granted him unlimited powers and the power to legislate without judicial oversight, he was born on the 8th of August, 1951. Morsi who was the first democratically elected president of Egypt was ousted following a large demonstration over his constitutional decree. This ended his one year rule.
  • Amadou Toumani Touré: Amadou ruled Mali for ten years, he gained power from 2002 to 2012. Born on the 4th of November, 1948, Toure was dethroned by mutinous soldiers a few months before his scheduled department from his presidential office. Afterward, he went into exile and has not been seen in Mali since then. 
  • Koudou Laurent Gbagbo: Laurent Gbagbo won the seat of presidency in Cote d’Ivoire after a mass protest was held on his behalf due to him and other politicians being denied access to run by military Junta Robert Geui. He was the rave and the favorite of the Cote d’Ivoire people in 2000, however, Gbagbo turned around and refused to allow the winner of the 2010 presidency election, Alassane Ouattara assume his rightful position. This led to Ouattara and Gbagbo being both presidents of the country. This led to a short civil war which killed 3000 people. One of the pro-Ouattara supporters had Gbagbo extradited to France where he was slammed with charges by the International Crimes Commission.  
  • Zine El Abidine Ben Ali: Born on the 3rd of September 1936, Ben Ali was the president of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. He fled Tunisia to Saudi Arabia after the people staged a mass protest against his rule, they accused him of numerous crimes which included money laundering. He ruled for 23 years and got slammed with 35 years imprisonment in absentia by a court and another sentenced him to life imprisonment. 
  • Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi: Gaddafi was considered a dictator in Libya after he ruled the country for 42-years. He ruled the country from 1943 to 2011 after he was killed on October 20, nine months after NATO-backed rebels rose up against his regime.
  • Mamadou Tandja: Tandja was born in 1938 and was the only president of Niger who was not originally Hausa or Djerma. Tandja was president from 1999 to 2010 after which he was ousted by the military for attempting to overstay his scheduled term.
  • Robert Gabriel Mugabe: Popular for his Mugabeism policies, Robert Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for 34 years, he was born on the 21st of February 1924. He retired at 95 years old after he was ousted by Zimbabwean military.
  • Omar Al-Bashir: The Sudanese president was ousted after a massive protest in the country. He was the president from 1993 till 2019 when he finally resigned from his position after he was toppled by the military due to a mass protest that was termed the ‘bread protest’. Omar was accused of imposing some unfair decrees in the country including the unjust increase in the price of fuel and flour.Photo Credit: KOKO

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