A coup d'état, often abbreviated to coup, is the overthrow of a lawful government through illegal means. If force or violence are not involved, such an event is sometimes called a soft or bloodless coup. In another variation known as a self-coup, a ruler who came to power through legal means may try to stay in power through illegal means, thus preventing the next legal ruler from taking power. This is a chronological list of such coups and coup attempts, from ancient times to the present.
876, Kingdom of Israel: Zimri, a military commander of Israel, killed King Elah and became king himself. Soon after, he committed suicide to avoid being overthrown by his own commander, Omri.
860, Qi coup d'état of 860 BC in Qi: Duke Hu of Qi was overthrown by his half-brother Shan.
41, Rome: Roman EmperorCaligula was assassinated as a result of a conspiracy by officers of the Praetorian Guard, senators, and courtiers, though the conspirators' attempt to use the opportunity to restore the Roman Republic was thwarted.
378, Tikal: King Chak Tok Ich'aak of Tikal was assassinated in a Teotihuacan-backed coup.
498, Yamato Province: Ōomi Heguri no Matori usurped YamatoJapan's government upon the death of the Ōkimi (Great Chieftain, now known as Emperor) Ninken. Matori was killed by Otomo no Kanamura.
602, Byzantine Empire: Maurice, Emperor of the Byzantine Empire, was deposed by a conspiracy of the Balkan army, which was led by a Thracian junior officer named Flavius Phocas and Maurice's seven sons. Most of the pro-Maurice government officials and generals were executed along with him (excepting Priscus and Philippicus), and Phocas was acclaimed emperor in the church of St. John the Baptist.
610, Heraclian revolt in the Byzantine Empire: The same Phocas who had deposed Maurice eight years earlier was deposed by a conspiracy led by the generals Priscus, his son-in-law, and Heraclius the Elder, the governor of north Africa. The exarch's son, Heraclius the Younger, deposed Phocas with the help of his cousin Niketas.
767, Duchy of Rome: Amidst the political turmoil of the Frankish-Byzantine rivalry for control over the Papacy, Pope Paul I contracted a fatal illness and died on June 28. Before a successor could be chosen, Roman nobles led by Toto of Nepi launched a military coup, installing Toto's brother as Antipope Constantine II.
839, Silla: Chang Pogo of Silla overthrew King Minae and installed King Sinmu on the throne.
1010, Goryeo: General Kang Cho of Goryeo staged a coup that overthrew King Mokjong.
1126, Goryeo: Yi Cha-gyŏm of Goryeo made a failed attempt to overthrow King Injong.
1170, Goryeo: General Chŏng Chung-bu of Goryeo led a military coup that deposed King Uijong and installed puppet king Myeongjong under military regime.
1197, Goryeo: Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn of Goryeo staged a military coup that ousted and killed military dictator Yi Ŭi-min, and deposed King Myeongjong.
1455, Joseon dynasty (Korea): Grand Prince Suyang of Joseon led a coup that ousted the government of Prime Minister Hwangbo In and Kim Chongsŏ, who were killed during the coup.
1459, Đại Việt: Prince Lê Nghi Dân led a coup that killed Emperor Lê Nhân Tông. Lê Nghi Dân later crowned himself.
1459, Đại Việt: Đỗ Bí and Lê Thụ led a coup that overthrew Emperor Lê Nghi Dân.
1569, 1569 Plot in Sweden: Courtiers of the imprisoned Eric XIV attempted to free and reinstate him, deposing John III of Sweden. The plot was exposed and prevented, and the conspirators were executed.
1622, Janissaries' Revolt in the Ottoman Empire: Janissaries revolted against Osman II and imprisoned him in the Seven Towers. He was murdered shortly afterwards.
1626, Mughal Empire: General Mahabat Khan revolted against Emperor Jahangir and kidnapped him, but the coup attempt was ultimately foiled by Nur Jahan.[15]
1648, Pride's Purge in England: Members of Parliament who wished to continue political negotiations with Charles I were ejected from the House of Commons. Those remaining—known as the Rump—went on to agree that the king should be put on trial for his life.
1769, Ethiopia: Ras Mikael Sehul deposed and killed EmperorIyoas I of Ethiopia in a demonstration of power over the Ethiopian Throne. This action ushered in the Zemene Mesafint ("Era of the Princes"), a lengthy period of civil war and chaos in Ethiopia.
1774, Nana Fadnavis, along with 11 other influential Sardars of the Maratha Empire, formed the Barbhai Counsil and overthrew PeshwaRaghunath Rao, who had seized the throne after killing his own nephew, Narayanrao. After his removal, Nana Fadnavis proclaimed 40-day-old son of Narayanrao, Madhavrao II as the next Peshwa, with himself acting as regent.
1789, 1789 Conspiracy in Sweden: An attempted coup, with the purpose of deposing Gustav III of Sweden, was thwarted.
1791, Poland: A political coup compelled the Polish diet to adopt a new constitution.
1793, Armfelt Conspiracy in Sweden: A coup by Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt, in companionship with Magdalena Rudenschöld, with the intent to depose the guardian government of Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden, was exposed.
Revolution of 1809 in Iceland: Danish adventurer Jørgen Jørgensen arrested the governor of Iceland and made himself protector, declaring the country independent from Denmark. Two months later, English warship HMS Talbot arrived and restored Danish rule.
1811
Figueroa mutiny
Chile: José Miguel Carrera first coup d'état (4 September 1811). Known as the first successful coup d'état in the history of Chile.
Costa Rica: Joaquín de Oreamuno overthrew Rafael Francisco Osejo and declared the joining of Costa Rica to the First Mexican Empire, but fails because of his defeat in the Battle of Ochomogo.
1832 Brazilian coup d'état attempt: a failed coup launched by Minister Diogo Feijó to suspend the Brazilian Constitution of 1824 and impose the so-called Pouso Alegre Constitution.[22]
Plan of Cuernavaca in Mexico: With the support of the Mexican Army and clergy, President Santa Anna performs a self-coup in which he declares himself dictator, dissolves congress and ends Gómez Farías' progressive reforms. This event culminated in Mexico's transition from a federal republic to a centralist system.[23]
Guatemala: On March 24, Rafael Carrera initiated a pronunciamiento in Mataquescuintla, in opposition to Carlos Salazar'spro-Morazán regime. Carrera's forces seized the capital on April 13, restoring Mariano Rivera Paz as head of state.[24]
1844 Haitian coup d'état: While Haitian president Charles Rivière-Hérard led a campaign against the Dominican Republic, a coup deposed him and brought General Philippe Guerrier to power.[26]
Portugal: Revolt of João Carlos de Saldanha (beginning of Regeneração)
1851 Nicaraguan coup d'état: On August 4, a military coup by José Trinidad Muñoz expels Supreme Director Laureano Pineda to Honduras. However, a Honduran-backed campaign restores Pineda to power in Nicaragua that same year.
Bolivia: Mariano Melgarejo rose up against José María de Achá and defeated his forces and those of Manuel Isidoro Belzu, who was also attempting to return to power. Melgarejo declared himself President of Bolivia.
Haiti: General Sylvain Salnave, opponent of the deposed President Geffrard, seizes power and proclaims himself "Protector of the Republic" after pressure from a mutiny of his adherents.[30]
Bolivia: Agustín Morales led a popular revolt against Mariano Melgarejo.
1872
A Pavorosa in Portugal: a planned putsch by the Count of Peniche Caetano Gaspar de Almeida e Noronha is detected by the Portuguese authorities led by Fontes Pereira de Melo
Gutiérrez Brothers' rebellion in Peru
1874
Spain (January): After Emilio Castelar lost a vote of confidence and a new government was to be instituted, Manuel Pavía y Rodríguez de Alburquerque ordered Congress to evacuate and formed a new government, giving power to Francisco Serrano.
1902 Paraguayan coup d'état: Caballerista coup led by Juan Antonio Escurra overthrew Emilio Aceval, who is replaced by interim president Andrés Héctor Carvallo.[34]
1902 Dominican coup d'état: Vice President Horacio Vásquez overthrew President Juan Isidro Jimenes.[35]
March 1903 Dominican coup d'état: Horacio Vásquez is overthrown by Alejandro Woss y Gil.[36]
November 1903 Dominican coup d'état: Carlos Morales Languasco overthrew President Alejandro Woss y Gil.
1904
1904 Honduran coup d'état: On February 8, Manuel Bonilla, with the support of the American mercenary Lee Christmas, carries out a self-coup against the National Congress of Honduras.[37]
Brazil: A failed military coup was led by Lauro Sodré after a week of civil disorder during the Vaccine Revolt.[38][39]
1905
1905 Dominican self-coup attempt: On 24 December, Carlos Morales Languasco plans a self-coup, but only a fraction of Dominican forces had arrived following his order. The plot is discovered by the President's opponents, which leads to Languasco's resignation.[40]
1906
1906 Ecuadorian coup d'état: Under the pretext of saving the Ecuadorian Liberal Revolution, Eloy Alfaro launches a coup against Lizardo García.[41]
1908 Paraguayan coup d'état: General Albino Jara overthrew Benigno Ferreira.[42]
1908 bombardment of the Majlis in Iran: Persian Cossack forces, commanded by Vladimir Liakhov and the other Russian officers, bombarded and by that suppressed the Iranian parliament. Liakhov was subsequently made Military Governor of Tehran by the Shah of Persia, Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar.
Goudi coup in Greece: A secret society of military officers called the Military League issued a pronunciamiento, resulting in the replacement of Prime Minister Dimitrios Rallis government and various reforms.
31 March Incident in the Ottoman Empire: Shortly after the Young Turk Revolution, members of the military convened on Sultan Ahmet Square to demand reestablishment of Sharia. After a brief period of rival groups claiming to represent the legitimate government, the uprising was suppressed and the former government was ultimately restored.
1912 coup d'état in the Ottoman Empire: Members of the Savior Officers group in the army, a pro-Freedom and Accord Party clique, issued a memorandum to the Grand Vizier Mehmed Said Pasha to resign and dissolve parliament, which was overwhelmingly dominated by the CUP following the rigged 1912 election known as the "election of clubs". The Savior Officers got their wish, resulting in Ahmed Muhtar Pasha's Great Cabinet.
1913
Citizens throng around The Citadel (La ciudadela) building during La decena tragica in 1913
United Kingdom: During the suffragette bombing and arson campaign, Special Branch detectives discovered that the WSPU had plans to create a suffragette "army" known as the "People's Training Corps" and informally as "Mrs Pankhurst's Army".[45] The army was intended to proceed in force to Downing Street to imprison ministers until they conceded women's suffrage.[45] After the discovery of the plans, they were aborted.[45]
Ethiopia: While touring the city of Harar, Lij Iyasu was deposed by a cabal of aristocrats in favor of his aunt Zewditu. Forces loyal to him were defeated at Segale, and Lij Iyasu wandered northwestern Ethiopia with a small band of loyal followers until captured five years later.
1918 Ukrainian coup d'état: Lieutenant general Pavlo Skoropadskyi overthrew the government of the Ukrainian People's Republic with support from the Imperial German Army. Skoropadskyi is declared Hetman (monarch) of all Ukraine.
Russia (August): In a first coup in Arkhangelsk, Captain Georgi Chaplin deposes the Bolshevik local government and establishes the Supreme Administration of the Northern Region.[46]
Polonsky conspiracy in Ukraine: Failed plot by Ukrainian Bolsheviks to seize power in the Makhnovshchina region and kill Nestor Makhno.
1919 Peruvian coup d'état: On July 4, Lima's military staged a coup to secure the inauguration of Augusto B. Leguía, the winner of the 1919 election. The coup began the Oncenio, a personalist dictatorship led by Leguía.[20]
1920–1929
Defendants in the Beer Hall Putsch trial. Ludendorff is fifth from the left, with Hitler to the right. Ernst Röhm is to the right and in front of Hitler. Note that only two of the defendants, Hitler and Frick, were dressed in civilian clothing.
Charles IV attempts to retake the throne in Hungary: The former King Charles I of Austria, who had also reigned as Charles IV of Hungary, returned to Hungary twice to try, unsuccessfully, to retake his throne from Regent Miklós Horthy.
September uprising (14–29 September 1923). The September Uprising (Bulgarian: Септемврийско въстание, Septemvriysko vastanie) was an armed insurgency staged in September 1923 by the Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP) under Comintern pressure and attempted to overthrow Alexander Tsankov's new government of Bulgaria that had come to power with the coup d'état of 9 June. Besides its communist base, the uprising was also supported by agrarians and anarchists. The uprising's goal was the "establishment of a government of workers and peasants" in Bulgaria.
Beer Hall Putsch in Germany: A failed coup was attempted by Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler in Germany against the leaders of the Weimar Republic. The Nazis were repelled by police, and Hitler was later charged with treason.
Leonardopoulos–Gargalidis coup attempt in Greece: Pro-royalist military officers attempted to stage a coup, and successfully took control of much of the Greek mainland. However, the government rallied its forces, and leaders Georgios Leonardopoulos and Panagiotis Gargalidis were ultimately surrounded and forced to surrender.
1924 Estonian coup attempt: Communists attempted a coup against the Estonian government, but their multiple attacks were repelled. Multiple organizers were executed; some escaped to the Soviet Union, but were later executed during the Great Purge.
June Revolution in Albania: A coup d'état overthrew the pro-Ahmet Zogu government and established a leftist government led by Fan Noli. On 24 December of that year, Zogu returned to power, and Noli and his government fled from the country.
1926 Lithuanian coup d'état: A military-organized coup resulted in the replacement of the democratically elected Lithuanian government with a conservative authoritarian government led by Antanas Smetona.
Ethiopia: Balcha Safo attempted a coup against regent Ras Tafari Makonnen (who would later become Emperor Haile Selassie I); the uprising never amounted to more than a show of force and was put down decisively by Kassa Haile Darge. Balcha Safo surrendered and was imprisoned.
Ethiopian coup d'état of 1928: Supporters of Empress Zewditu attempted to eliminate the heir apparent and Crown Prince Tafari Makonnen; the coup d'état ended in failure.
1929
1929 Spanish coup d'état: a failed coup against the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera
1929 Tuvan coup d'état in the Tuvan People's Republic: Five Tuvan youths supported by the Soviet Union successfully overthrew the government, and one of them, Salchak Toka, became supreme ruler.
1930–1939
1930
Gugsa Wale's rebellion in Ethiopia: An uprising by Ras Gugsa Wale against King Tafari Makonnen (later Emperor Haile Selassie I) was put down decisively at the Battle of Anchem by the Minister of War, Ras Mulugeta Yeggazu.
Bolivia: General Carlos Blanco Galindo overthrew the ministerial cabinet, which had been operating as the Bolivian executive power since the resignation of Hernando Siles Reyes the month prior.
Guatemala: Manuel María Orellana Contreras overthrows Baudilio Palma
1931
1931 Panamanian coup d'état: On January 2, members of Acción Comunal led a coup that overthrew President Florencio Harmodio Arosemena.[47]
March Incident in Japan: The radical, ultranationalist Sakurakai secret society attempted to start large-scale riots in Tokyo, which instigators hoped would lead to martial law and then a coup d'état by the Imperial Japanese Army. Two attempts to start riots failed, and the leaders of the plot were arrested.
October incident in Japan: The Sakurakai again plotted a coup, this time to be instigated by assassinations of key statesmen and officials. The plot was foiled by some of the plotters abandoning the effort, and leaks that reached the War Minister of Japan.
Chile: A coup headed by the Chilean military deposed President Juan Esteban Montero and created the Socialist Republic of Chile. After 3 months, other army officers headed a counter-coup and ended the Socialist Republic, and the new provisional president, Abraham Oyanedel, restored democracy.
1932 Colonial Building riot in St. John's, Newfoundland: On 5 April 1932, prompted by the Great Depression and corruption in the Squires administration, a peaceful protest degenerated into riots and violence. The riots led to the fall of the Squires government and the defeat of Squires's Liberal Party.
1933
Uruguay: The president of Uruguay, Gabriel Terra, dissolved Parliament and headed a coup.
Business Plot (also called the Wall Street Putsch or the White House Putsch) in the United States: Retired Marine CorpsMajor GeneralSmedley Butler asserted that wealthy businessmen were plotting to create a fascist veterans' organization with Butler as its leader and use it in a coup d'état to overthrow Roosevelt. While historians have questioned whether or not a coup was actually close to execution, most agree that some sort of "wild scheme" was contemplated and discussed.
1934 Bulgarian coup d'état: The Zveno military organization and the Military Union, with the aid of the Bulgarian Army, overthrew the government of the wide Popular Bloc coalition and replaced it with one under Kimon Georgiev.
1934 Lithuanian coup attempt: Supporters of the former Prime Minister Augustinas Voldemaras attempted to overthrow the government of President Antanas Smetona.
1934 Cuban coups d'état: A coup on 15 January overthrew provisional president Ramón Grau. A second coup three days later overthrew his replacement, Carlos Hevia, and installed Carlos Mendieta as president.
1934 Bolivian coup d'état: Bolivian generals deposed President Daniel Salamanca in the midst of the Chaco War.
Mexico: In an internal coup, Lázaro Cárdenas deported and exiled President Plutarco Elías Calles, effectively ending Calles' control over the Mexican government.
Xi'an Incident in China: General Chiang Kai-shek was kidnapped by his deputy Zhang Xueliang, who demanded that Chiang stop fighting the Chinese Communists and instead agree to a united resistance against the Japanese. His wife's and her brother's subsequent negotiation with Zhang ensured Chiang's release two weeks later.
La Camperada in Bolivia (also known as the Chapaco Putsch): On March 26, a group of Tarija's officers under the leadership of Antenor Ichazo rebelled against the Quintanilla government and President-elect Enrique Peñaranda.[51]
Norway: The fascist politician Vidkun Quisling attempted to overthrow the Norwegian government in response to the German invasion of Denmark and Norway.
20 July plot in Germany: Part of Operation Valkyrie, the German resistance and German Reserve Army attempted to kill Adolf Hitler and seize control of the Third Reich in order to negotiate peace with the Allies. The coup failed after it was found Hitler did not die in the bomb blast, and the Reserve Army began to refuse to take orders from the German resistance. 5,000 conspirators were given show trials and summarily executed.
King Michael's Coup in Romania: On 23 August, pro-German dictator Ion Antonescu was overthrown and KingMichael of Romania switched the nation from the Axis side of the war to join the Allies.
Lorković–Vokić plot: planned coup by members of the Croat Government and the Croatian Peasants Party to overthrow the Ustashe, and then establish a pro-Allied Government.
1947 Thai coup d'état: A coup against Thawan Thamrongnawasawat resulted in the return of Plaek Phibunsongkhram.
Hungary: The democratically elected Prime Minister Ferenc Nagy stepped down in the face of blackmail from the Hungarian Communist Party, and was replaced by Lajos Dinnyés.
1948 Venezuelan coup d'état: The democratically elected government of Rómulo Gallegos was overthrown, and a military junta was installed with Carlos Delgado Chalbaud as its leader.
1948 Peruvian coup d'état: General Manuel A. Odría led a military coup that overthrew José Luis Bustamante y Rivero, initiating an authoritarian rule ("Ochenio de Odría") that lasted until 1956.[20]
December 1949 Syrian coup d'état: In December, Adib Shishakli led a military coup. He kept al-Atassi as president, but arrested Sami al-Hinnawi to end Hashemite influence in Syria.
1950–1959
1950
APRA coup d'état in Indonesia
1951
1951 Panamanian coup d'état: In a second coup, Arnulfo Arias was overthrown following a popular uprising supported by Panama's National Guard.[47]
Manhattan Rebellion in Thailand: A coup attempt by officers of the Royal Thai Navy against the government of Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram failed on 29–30 June.
Silent Coup (also called the Radio Coup) in Thailand: The Army-led National Military Council announced the dissolution of parliament, reinstatement of the 1932 constitution, and formation of a provisional government on 29 November.
Argentina: A military coup attempt against Juan Perón was unsuccessful.
Bolivia: President Mamerto Urriolagoitía enacted a self-coup, known as the Mamertazo, and resigned in favor of General Hugo Ballivián in order to prevent elected reformist Víctor Paz Estenssoro from taking office.
Brazil: A counter-coup led by marshal Henrique Teixeira Lott overthrew the government of Carlos Luz and prevented a coup against the elected president Juscelino Kubitschek.
1956 Honduran coup d'état: A military coup led by military junta successfully ousted Julio Lozano Díaz from power.
1957
1957 Colombian coup d'état: The military supported strikes and student riots, and deposed Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, giving power to the Colombian Military Junta and chairman Gabriel París Gordillo.[57]
1957 coup in Thailand: A coup by members of the Royal Thai Army, under the command of Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, resulted in the ouster and exile of Plaek Phibunsongkhram.
1957 Sudanese coup attempt: occurred after one year of Sudan independence in 1956, a group of army officers and students from the Sudanese Military College led by Abdel Rahman Ismail Kabeida, led a coup attempted against Prime Minister Abdullah Khalil and the Sovereignty Council.[58][59]
Guatemala: A military coup overthrew Luis Arturo González López, and installed a three-man junta headed by Óscar Mendoza Azurdia.[60]
1959 Sudanese coup attempt: was on 9 November 1959 where a group of military officers attempted a coup to overthrow Lieutenant General Ibrahim Abboud. The coup attempt failed and conspirators were court martialled and the leaders were hanged.[63][64]
Bangkok Plot: an attempt to overthrow Norodom Sihanouk.
1960 Laotian coups: Phoumi Nosavan, who came to power after a coup the previous year, was overthrown in August 1960 by his former ally Kong Le. A three-way conflict ensued, and an attempt by Kouprasith Abhay to seize power from Kong Le failed. Following the Battle of Vientiane, Phoumi Nosavan regained power.
1960 Salvadoran coup d'état: On 26 October, José María Lemus was overthrown by the Junta of Government.
1960 Nepal coup d'état in Nepal: On 15 December, King Mahendra of Nepal dismissed the cabinet of B. P. Koirala and imprisoned Koirala.
1962 Turkish coup attempt: Staff Colonel Talat Aydemir, the Commander of the Turkish Military Academy, and his associates attempted a coup against Prime Minister İsmet İnönü.
1963 Guatemalan coup d'état: Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes was overthrown by the military. Enrique Peralta Azurdia took power and established the Institutional Democratic Party until elections took place in 1966.[67]
1963 Dominican coup d'état: The military overthrew President Juan Bosch in September 1963, only seven months into his term as the first democratically elected president in the Dominican Republic since 1924. Bosch was replaced by a junta until it was overthrown in 1965.[68]
1963 Turkish coup attempt: A military coup attempt failed in Turkey.
1963 Togolese coup d'état in Togo: Coup leaders including Emmanuel Bodjollé, Étienne Eyadéma (later Gnassingbé Eyadéma), and Kléber Dadjo took over government buildings, arrested most of the cabinet, and assassinated Togo's first president, Sylvanus Olympio, outside the American embassy in Lomé. Nicolas Grunitzky and Antoine Meatchi, both exiled political opponents of Olympio, formed a new government.
1963 Honduran coup d'état: The military overthrew the democratic government of Honduras ten days before a scheduled election. Oswaldo López Arellano took power from Ramón Villeda Morales, preventing the likely succession of Modesto Rodas Alvarado.
1964 Gabonese coup d'état: Gabonese military officers overthrew President Léon M'ba and established a provisional government with Jean-Hilaire Aubame as president. The provisional government was toppled shortly afterwards with the help of France, and M'ba was reinstated.
1964 Laotian coups: Policemen of the Directorate of National Coordination overthrew the Royal Lao Government in April, but the successful coup was overturned five days later by U.S. Ambassador Leonard Unger. In August, a second coup was attempted when Defense MinisterPhoumi Nosavan tried to take over Vientiane with a training battalion; this was quickly quashed by the Royal Laotian Army's troops.
1965
1965 Bulgarian coup attempt: A conspiracy by officials in the Bulgarian Communist Party and officers in the Bulgarian People's Army to overthrow Todor Zhivkov was uncovered, and foiled before the coup could be carried out.
1965 Algerian coup d'état: After a military coup in Algeria, Defense Minister Colonel Houari Boumedienne took power.
Indonesia: Members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces calling themselves the 30 September Movement began a coup attempt and assassinated six Indonesian Army generals. The attempted coup failed, and was blamed on the Communist Party of Indonesia, which led to a mass purge of actual and suspected members of the party and sympathizers. While who is behind the initial coup is still being debated, Major General Suharto took advantage of the chaos to exile First Indonesian President Sukarno and install a dictatorship that would last until 1998.
Second Mobutu coup in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Mobutu Sese Seko seized power in a bloodless coup after Parliament twice refused to confirm Évariste Kimba as prime minister.
1965 Burundian coup attempt: A group of ethnic Hutu officers from the Burundian military wounded the Prime Minister of Burundi, but ultimately failed to overthrow the government.
1965 Laotian coups: Two simultaneous and independent January coups failed. One was led by General Phoumi Nosavan, who had participated in four prior coup attempts against the Royal Lao Government; the other was led by Colonel Bounleuth Saycocie.
Operation Cold Chop in Ghana: The Ghana Armed Forces, led by Colonel Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, overthrew Kwame Nkrumah while he was abroad. The National Liberation Council was formed, and Lieutenant General Joseph Arthur Ankrah was installed as chairman.
1966 Nigerian coup d'état: In January, mutinous Nigerian soldiers led by Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and Emmanuel Ifeajuna killed 22 people including the Prime Minister of Nigeria and many senior politicians and Army officers. The General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army, Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, was compelled to take control of the government.
1966 alleged Ceylonese coup attempt (also known as the Bathroom coup): 31 suspects, including the commander of the army, were arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government of Dudley Senanayake. They were later unanimously acquitted.[72]
1966 Laotian coup d'état: General Thao Ma, who wished to reserve the transports Royal Lao Air Force for strictly military use, was forced into exile by fellow generals angling to use the transports for smuggling opium and gold.
1966 Republic of the Congo coup attempt
Saudi Arabia: A coup attempt against King Faisal failed.[73]
Operation Guitar Boy in Ghana: A coup attempt led by a group of junior officers of the Ghana Armed Forces resulted in the assassination of Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, Ghana's Chief of the Defence Staff. However, the coup itself was unsuccessful.
1967 coups in Sierra Leone: On 21 March, Brigadier David Lansana led a bloodless military coup against Prime Minister Siaka Stevens, who had taken office hours earlier after a closely contested election. Lansana declared himself interim leader, placing Stevens under house arrest and later releasing him, at which point Stevens went into exile. On 23 March, Brigadier Andrew Juxon-Smith led a group of military officers to seize control of the government, arrest Lansana, and suspend the constitution. They established the National Reformation Council and made Juxon-Smith the chairman.
Biafra: Biafran Army colonel Victor Banjo plotted a coup against Biafran President Odumegwu Ojukwu. The coup plot was uncovered by an informant, and Banjo and two other conspirators were executed on 22 September.
Sergeants' Coup in Sierra Leone: A military coup against Brigadier Andrew Juxon-Smith by Brigadier John Amadu Bangura restored Siaka Stevens as prime minister.
1968 Malian coup d'état: Lieutenant Moussa Traore led a bloodless military coup against President Modibo Keita.
1968 Republic of the Congo coup d'état
1969
1969 Libyan coup d'état (also known as the al-Fateh Revolution or the 1 September Revolution): Muammar al-Gaddafi led a group of military officers to overthrow the monarchy of King Idris, resulting in the abolition of the Libyan monarchy and establishment of the Libyan Arab Republic.
1969 Saudi Arabian coup attempt: A failed coup d'état, planned by numerous high-ranking members of the Royal Saudi Air Force, resulted in King Faisal ordering the arrest of hundreds of military officers.
1969 Bolivian coup d'état: General Alfredo Ovando Candía overthrew President Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas.
1969 Panamanian coup attempt (also known as Loyalty Day): On December 16, a group of loyalists officers, including Manuel Noriega, warned General Omar Torrijos to a coup plot during his Mexico trip, securing his return to power in Panama.[74]
Bolivia: A junta of commanders of the Bolivian army enact a coup, but the highly polarized military forces were split. President Alfredo Ovando Candía sought asylum in a foreign embassy, believing all hope was lost, but leftist military forces reasserted control under the leadership of General Juan José Torres. Embarrassed by his quick abandonment of the fight and exhausted by a grueling 13 months in office, Ovando agreed to leave the presidency in Torres's hands.
1970 Haitian coup attempt: An attempted against François Duvalier was led by Octave Cayard.
Mishima Incident in Japan: After barricading the headquarters of the Eastern Command of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and tying the commandant to a chair, Yukio Mishima, the leader of the Tatenokai, delivered a speech to soldiers gathered outside, intending to inspire a coup. After this failed, Mishima committed seppuku.
Chile: With the United States Central Intelligence Agency strongly invested in Salvador Allende not coming to power in the 1970 Chilean presidential election, the CIA discussed several possible coup options.[75]
1971
1971 Turkish military memorandum: The Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces delivered a memorandum demanding the formation of a "strong and credible government, which will neutralise the current anarchical situation".
Thailand: Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn launched a self-coup against his own government, dissolving parliament and appointing himself Chairman of the National Executive Council.
Project 571 in China: An alleged coup plot was developed against the Chinese leader Mao Zedong by the supporters of Lin Biao, then vice-chairman of the Chinese Communist Party. Any attempts that may have been made at the coup ultimately failed.
1971 Moroccan coup attempt: A coup attempt was organized by General Mohamed Medbouh and Colonel M'hamed Ababou and carried out by cadets during a diplomatic function at King Hassan II's summer palace in Rabat. The King and important guests were detained, and plotters took control of Rabat's radio station to say that the king had been killed and a republic had been founded. Royalist troops regained the palace and ended the coup attempt.
1971 Bolivian coup d'état: General Hugo Banzer overthrew President Juan José Torres and established a military dictatorship.
1971 Pakistan Military Officer's Revolt: Overthrow of Yahya Khan by Pakistani officers
1972
Ghana: Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong led a coup to overthrow the democratically elected government of the Progress Party and its leader Kofi Abrefa Busia on 13 January.
1972 Ecuadorian coup d'état
1972 Sharjawi coup d'état attempt: Saqr bin Sultan Al Qasimi led a coup that killed Khalid bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, but failed to seize power in the Emirate of Sharjah.
Martial law declared in the Philippines: President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in a self-coup, beginning 14 years of authoritarian rule.
October Yusin (or October Restoration) in South Korea: President Park Chung Hee assumed dictatorial powers in a self-coup on 17 October.
1973 Laotian coup attempt: Exiled General Thao Ma took over a Laotian airfield and led air strikes on the office and home of General Kouprasith Abhay in an attempt to stave off a communist coalition government in Laos. Royalist forces retook the airfield, and shot down and executed Thao Ma when he returned after the bombings, which had failed to kill Kouprasith.
Moulay Bouazza plot
1974
1974 Upper Voltan coup d'état: In a self-coup, President Sangoulé Lamizana dismissed the prime minister Gérard Kango Ouédraogo and dissolved the National Assembly.
Arube uprising in Uganda: A coup attempt against Idi Amin was led by Brigadier Charles Arube.
1974 North Yemen coup d'état (also known as the 13 June Corrective Movement): A bloodless coup deposed Abdul Rahman al-Eryani, and brought Ibrahim al-Hamdi to power.[65]
Bolivia: Hugo Banzer solidifies his regime with a self-coup formulated in Supreme Decree 11947. A military-only government and ban on political activities are declared.
1975 Nigerian coup d'état: A faction of junior military officers overthrew Yakubu Gowon and appointed Brigadier Murtala Muhammed as head of state.
24 February 1975 Pyjama coup was a failed conspiracy by far-right Greek military officers, to re-establish the Greek junta. The term "pyjamas coup" was coined by then-Defense Minister Evangelos Averoff.
7 November 1975 Bangladesh coup d'état: Left wing army personnel killed General Khaled Mosharraf and paved the way for Ziaur Rahman to take power. Rahman would go on to survive as many as 21 assassination and coup attempts until his 1981 assassination.
1975 Australian constitutional crisis (also known as "the Dismissal"): A constitutional crisis occurred in Australia. It has been referred to by some, including author John Pilger, as a "soft coup" due to allegations of involvement by British and American intelligence agencies in the removal of then-Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.[78][79][80]
1975 Sudanese coup attempt was on 5 September led by army officers linked to the Sudanese Communist Party. The coup was quickly crushed by Vice President Mohamed al-Baghir Ahmed. The coup leader, Brigadier Hassan Hussein Osman, court martialled and executed.[81]
Coup of 25 November 1975:A coup attempt led by far-left military units failed, putting an end to PREC. The current Portuguese Constitution would be approved and come into force five months later.
1976 Central African Republic coup attempt: On 3 February, coup plotters orchestrated an assassination attempt on Jean-Bédel Bokassa at Bangui airport by throwing a grenade in his direction, but the plan failed when the grenade did not detonate.[82]
1976 Nigerian coup attempt: Military officers led by Lieutenant Colonel Buka Suka Dimka succeeded in assassinating General Murtala Muhammed, but failed to enact a coup.
Al-Ahdab coup in Lebanon (also known as the Television coup): On 11 March, Brigadier General Aziz Al-Ahdab staged an abortive coup in Lebanon, which he announced via Beirut's TV station, and which demanded the resignation of President Suleiman Frangieh.[83]
1976 Sudanese coup attempt on 2 July, saw the fighting between one thousand insurgents of Sadiq al Mahdi followers, armed and trained by Libya, against President Gaafar al-Nimeiry government in Khartoum, Sudan.[84]
March 1977 Thai coup attempt: A group of Royal Thai Army officers failed to overthrow Prime Minister Thanin Kraivichien.
October 1977 Thai coup d'état: General Kriangsag Chamanan led a bloodless military coup against Prime Minister Thanin Kraivichien.
1977 Sudanese coup attempt in Juba on 2 February, was an unsuccessful coup, led by 12 Air Force members who had previously been members of Anyanya.[85]
Operation Mafuta Mingi in Uganda: A coup attempt against Idi Amin was led by Uganda Liberation Movement.
1977 Angolan coup attempt
1978
1978 Comorian coup d'état
1978 North Yemeni coup attempt: A coup attempt against President Ali Abdullah Saleh failed.
1978 Somali coup attempt: A group of military officials failed to overthrow President Siad Barre. Most of the plotters, including coup leader Colonel Mohamed Osman Irro, were summarily executed. However, some prominent officials, including Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, survived and formed the first resistance group against Barre known as the Somali Salvation Democratic Front.[86]
1978 Mauritanian coup d'état: Chief of Army Staff Colonel Mustafa Ould Salek led a bloodless military coup that ousted long-time President Moktar Ould Daddah.[87]
Operation Galaxia in Spain: A plot to stop the Spanish transition to democracy was planned for 17 November. However, some officers present at the planning informed their superiors, and the plan was thwarted.
Bolivia: After the annulment of a fraudulent election in which term-limited Hugo Banzer ensured the win of his surrogate, Juan Pereda, then denounced Pereda and blamed him for the rigged election, Pereda launched a coup and was sworn in as president. Pereda himself was overthrown several months later by David Padilla, who briefly served as president until new elections could be held.
Coup d'état of December Twelfth in South Korea: Major General Chun Doo-hwan led a coup against Choi Kyu-hah, and early the next year installed himself as president.
Bolivia: Alberto Natusch enacted a coup against the interim government of Wálter Guevara, but resigned after just sixteen days. As a face-saving measure, Natusch secured an agreement that Guevara wouldn't return as president, and Lidia Gueiler became interim president.
1979 Mauritanian coup d'état: The bloodless military coup was led by Colonel Ahmed Ould Bouceif and Colonel Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla, who seized effective power from the President, Colonel Mustafa Ould Salek.[88]
June 4th revolution in Ghana: Jerry John Rawlings and others led a military uprising that removed leader Fred Akuffo from power, following an unsuccessful attempt the month before.
Operation Storm-333: Babrak Karmal overthrows Hafizullah Amin and established a pro-Soviet, Parcham-dominated government.
1980–1989
1980
1980 Pakistan coup attempt
Coup d'état of May Seventeenth in South Korea: On 17 May, General Chun Doo-hwan forced the Cabinet to extend martial law to the whole nation, which had previously not applied to Jeju-do. On 18 May, citizens of Gwangju rose up against Chun Doo-hwan's military dictatorship and took control of the city. In the course of the uprising, citizens took up arms to defend themselves, but were ultimately crushed by the army. On 20 May 1980, Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo ordered the National Assembly to be dissolved by deploying troops in the National Assembly.
1980 Mauritanian coup d'état: Colonel Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla led a bloodless military coup that ousted President Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Louly.[89]
1980 Bolivian coup d'état: General Luis García Meza enacted a violent military coup against his cousin, President Lidia Gueiler, who subsequently fled the country. The coup began the rule of the first Junta of Commanders of the Armed Forces.
1980 Turkish coup d'état: On 12 September, the National Security Council, headed by Chief of the General Staff General Kenan Evren, declared a coup d'état on the national channel. The Council then extended martial law throughout the country, abolished the Parliament and the government, suspended the Constitution, and banned all political parties and trade unions.
1980 Guinea-Bissau coup d'état: Prime Minister and commander of the armed forces, João Bernardo Vieira, overthrew the government.
1980 Surinamese coup d'état (also known as the Sergeants' Coup): A group of military officers, led by Dési Bouterse, overthrew the government of Prime Minister Henck Arron. The coup began a military dictatorship that lasted until 1991.
1980 Upper Voltan coup d'état: Colonel Saye Zerbo led a military coup and overthrew President Sangoulé Lamizana.
1981 Spanish coup attempt (also known as 23-F or the Tejerazo): Lieutenant-Colonel Antonio Tejero attempted a coup in which members of the military entered the Congress of Deputies during the vote to elect a President of the Government. The officers held the parliamentarians and ministers hostage for 18 hours, but surrendered the next morning without killing anyone.
1981 Gambian coup attempt: Members of the Gambia Socialist Revolutionary Party and disaffected staff of the Gambia Field Force led a failed coup against President Dawda Jawara, who was in the United Kingdom. The attempt was quashed by the Senegalese armed forces.
Assassination of Ziaur Rahman in Bangladesh: A faction of officers of the Bangladesh Army succeeded in assassinating President Ziaur Rahman, who had survived many prior assassination attempts. The army suppressed the coup, and Vice President Abdus Sattar became acting president.
Suriname: Wilfred Hawker led an attempted coup against the government of Dési Bouterse, who had come to power in a coup the previous year. The coup failed, and Hawker was imprisoned and later executed.
1981 Central African Republic coup d'état: General André Kolingba overthrew President David Dacko, who was out of the country, in a bloodless coup.
1981 Ghanaian coup d'état: On 31 December, Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings overthrew Hilla Limann and the People's National Party, and established the Provisional National Defence Council.
1981 Seychelles coup attempt (also known as the Seychelles affair or Operation Angela): A South African-orchestrated coup attempt failed to overthrow the government of Prime Minister France-Albert René in Seychelles and install the previous president James Mancham to power.
Rambocus coup attempt in Suriname: Surendre Rambocus and Wilfred Hawker attempted a coup against the government of Dési Bouterse. The attempt failed, and the plotters were arrested and later executed.
1982 Upper Voltan coup d'état: Colonel Gabriel Yoryan Somé led a military coup to overthrow the regime of Colonel Saye Zerbo, installing Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo as president.
1983 Upper Voltan coup attempt: A few months after the Somé-led coup deposed Zerbo, several army officers decided to kill members of the Council of Popular Salvation and restore Zerbo to power. The plotters were arrested before they were able to do so.
1983 Nigerian coup d'état: Members of the Nigerian military led a coup, ousting the democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari. They installed Major General Muhammadu Buhari as leader of the Supreme Military Council, the country's new ruling body.
Grenada: In a military coup, Deputy Prime Minister Maurice Bishop was placed under house arrest. Bishop, who enjoyed popularity among the Grenadian population, was freed by supporters, and Bishop and some of his co-conspirators were executed. After the execution, the People's Revolutionary Army (PRA) formed a military Marxist government with General Hudson Austin as chairman. The United States invaded Grenada shortly after.
1984
1984 Pakistan coup attempt
1984 Syrian coup attempt
1984 Cameroonian coup attempt: Some members of the Presidential Guard failed to overthrow President Paul Biya.
1984 Bolivian coup attempt: During an ultimately unsuccessful coup attempt, the military arrested President Hernán Siles Zuazo for ten hours.
Romania: A tentative coup d'état planned in October 1984 failed when the military unit assigned to carry out the plan was sent to harvest maize instead.[91]
1985 Nigerian coup d'état: Chief of Army Staff General Ibrahim Babangida led a military coup which replaced Major General Muhammadu Buhari, and replaced the Supreme Military Council with the Armed Forces Ruling Council.
The Carapintada uprising in Argentina: Lieutenant Colonel Aldo Rico and Carapintada followers took up arms to make demands of the Argentine government. However, the public was sensitive to any military demands following decades of coups, and rallied around Alfonsin.
1987 Fijian coups d'état: Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka overthrew the government of Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra. After temporarily handing power to a council of ministers, in September that year, Rabuka seized control of the country again, deposed Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, and declared Fiji a republic.
Sierra Leone: On 23 March, police reported that a group of conspirators, including Vice President Francis Minah, was plotting to assassinate President Joseph Saidu Momoh and stage a coup after they raided a house in Freetown and discovered a cache of weapons, including rocket launchers. Minah and seventeen other alleged conspirators were convicted of treason and sentenced to death.
Argentina: Aldo Rico, who had been imprisoned following a 1987 coup attempt, escaped prison and began a new attempt to overthrow President Raúl Alfonsín. Rico surrendered after a brief combat with the Argentinian army.
Argentina: Colonel Mohamed Alí Seineldín, backed by the Carapintadas, launched a coup attempt against President Alfonsin, but he and the other conspirators were jailed.
1988 Guatemalan coup attempt: On May 11, a faction of the Guatemalan army attempted a coup against President Vinicio Cerezo, but was unsuccessful.[92]
June 1988 Haitian coup d'état: Henri Namphy overthrew President Leslie Manigat and declared himself president.
September 1988 Haitian coup d'état: Prosper Avril overthrew President Namphy, who had come to power in a coup only months earlier.
1988 Panamanian coup attempt: In March, a coup was attempted against Manuel Noriega, but was suppressed.
1988 São Tomé and Príncipe coup attempt
1988 Maldives coup attempt: A group of Maldivians, assisted by mercenaries, gained control of the capital and major government buildings, but the coup ultimately failed after intervention by Indian armed forces.
1989 Burkina Faso coup attempt: A coup was allegedly attempted by Baptiste Boukary Lingani, Henri Zongo, and others against President Blaise Compaoré. After the plot was discovered, alleged conspirators were arrested and summarily executed.
1989 Guatemalan coup attempt: On 9 May, a group of retired military officers attempted another coup against President Vinicio Cerezo, but was suppressed.[92]
1989 Ethiopian coup attempt: On 16 May, while President Mengistu Haile Mariam was out of the country for a four-day state visit to East Germany, senior military officials attempted a coup and the Minister of Defense, Haile Giyorgis Habte Mariam, was killed. Mengistu quickly returned, and nine generals, including the air force commander and the army chief of staff, died as the coup was crushed.
1989 Paraguayan coup d'état (also known as La Noche de la Candelaria): General Andrés Rodríguez led a bloody coup against the regime of long-time leader Alfredo Stroessner.
1989 Panamanian coup attempt: Major Moisés Giroldi led a failed coup attempt, supported by a group of officers who had returned from a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia. Although the plotters succeeded in capturing Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, the coup was quickly suppressed. Giroldi and nine others were executed, and another participant in the coup attempt died in prison after being tortured.
1990–1999
1990
1990 Nigerian coup attempt: Major Gideon Orkar attempted to overthrow the government of General Ibrahim Babangida. Though successful in seizing military posts, a radio station, and the presidential residence, Orkar and others involved in the coup were captured by government troops, convicted of treason, and later executed.
1990 Sudanese coup attempt was a bloodless coup attempt which took place in Sudan on 23 April against the RCCNS, the ruling military junta led by Lieutenant General Omar al-Bashir.[93]
1990 Afghan coup attempt: On 6 March, General Shahnawaz Tanai attempted to overthrow President Mohammad Najibullah of the Republic of Afghanistan. The coup attempt failed and Tanai was forced to flee to Pakistan.
1990 Zambian coup attempt: On 1 July, Lieutenant Mwamba Luchembe rebelled against the Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda, but failed to enact a coup.
Argentina: Mohamed Alí Seineldín and other Carapintadas made a second attempt at overthrowing the Argentine government, now led by President Carlos Menem. The coup failed, and Seineldín was sentenced to life imprisonment, which he served until his 2003 pardon.[94]
1990 Chadian coup d'état: The forces of the Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), a Libyan–backed rebel group under the leadership of General Idriss Déby, entered the Chadian capital N'Djamena unopposed. After three months of provisional government, the MPS approved a national charter on 28 February 1991, with Déby as president.
1990 Panamanian coup attempt: On December 5, Colonel Eduardo Herrera Hassan, a former officer in the Panama Defense Forces, led a police rebellion against Guillermo Endara. Herrera's coup attempt was suppressed with U.S. support.[95]
1990 Surinamese coup d'état (also known as the Telephone Coup): Acting commander-in-chief of the Suriname National Army (SNL), Police Chief Ivan Graanoogst, dismissed President Ramsewak Shankar by telephone on 24 December. On 27 December, the government was dismissed, the National Assembly was dissolved, and Johan Kraag was appointed as president on 29 December. On 31 December, Dési Bouterse was reappointed as commander-in-chief of the SNL.
1991 Thai coup d'état: The National Peace Keeping Council, a military junta, overthrew the elected civilian government of Chatichai Choonhavan in 1991.
1991 Lesotho coup d'état: Elias Phisoana Ramaema overthrows Justin Lekhanya and restores Moshoeshoe II as king of Lesotho.
Somalia: Guerrilla forces, including the Somali Salvation Democratic Front in the northeast, the Somali National Movement in the northwest, and the United Somali Congress in the south, performed a successful coup against the Siad Barre government. Mohamed Farah Aideed, the general most responsible for the coup, declared himself the ruling president.
1992
1992 Algerian coup d'état: A military coup in Algeria canceled elections and forced President Chadli Bendjedid to resign.
1992 Peruvian coup d'état: In a self-coup on 5 April, President Alberto Fujimori dissolved the Peruvian congress and judiciary and assumed full legislative and judicial powers.
1992 Peruvian coup attempt: On 13 November, General Jaime Salinas Sedó led a group of military officers in attempting to overthrow President Fujimori, but was unsuccessful.
1992 Sierra Leonean coup d'état: A group of young military officers, led by Captain Valentine Strasser, took control of the government on 29 April. They deposed President Joseph Saidu Momoh and Strasser took control of the government.
1992 Sudanese coup attempt was led by Colonel Ahmed Khaled who was a sympathiser of the Sudanese Ba'ath Party.[96]
Rahmon Nabiyev was forced to resign from the government militia on 7 September 1992, with Emomali Rahmon assuming internal power in November.[97]
1993
1993 Guatemalan constitutional crisis: President Jorge Serrano Elías unsuccessfully launched a self-coup, illegally suspending the constitution and dissolving Congress and the Supreme Court. Facing protests and international pressure, Serrano resigned the presidency and fled the country. He was briefly replaced by Vice President Gustavo Adolfo Espina Salguero, but after Espina was found by the Supreme Court to have been involved in the coup, Congress replaced him with Ramiro de León Carpio.
1993 Russian constitutional crisis (also known as the 1993 October Coup, Black October, the Shooting of the White House or Ukase 1400): President Boris Yeltsin successfully launched a self-coup, illegally dissolving the Russian parliament.
1994 Gambian coup d'état: A group of soldiers led by Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh seized power in a bloodless coup on 22 July, ousting Dawda Jawara, who had been President of the Gambia since its independence in 1965.
1994 Lesotho coup d'état
1994 Liberian coup attempt
1995
1995 Azerbaijani coup attempt (also known as the Turkish coup in Baku): members of the Azerbaijani military, led by Colonel Rovshan Javado, aimed to take control of the country from president Heydar Aliyev and reinstall former president Abulfaz Elchibey. The coup was foiled when the Turkish President Süleyman Demirel became aware of elements in Turkey supporting the plot, and called Aliyev to warn him. On 17 March, units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces surrounded the insurgents' camp and assaulted it, killing Colonel Javadov.
1995 Pakistani coup attempt: A failed coup plot to overthrow Benazir Bhutto.
1995 São Tomé and Príncipe coup attempt
1996
1996 Qatari coup attempt: Many members of the Al Thani family who were still allies of Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, who had been deposed in a coup the prior year, organized a coup to overthrow Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. However, the coup was discovered and thwarted.
1997 Turkish military memorandum (also known as the Post-modern coup): Military decisions issued in a National Security Council meeting on 28 February have been described as a coup. Although the parliament was not dissolved, the military pressure resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan.
On 16 October 1997 Cobra militia supported by tanks and a force of 1,000 Angolan troops cemented their control of Brazzaville, having ousted Pascal Lissouba. Denis Sassou Nguessoassumed power on the following day, declaring himself president.
1997 Zambian coup attempt: On 28 October, Captain Steven 'Solo' Lungu rebelled against the Zambian president Frederick Chiluba, but failed to enact a coup.
1998
May 1998 riots of Indonesia: Mass violence, demonstrations, and civil unrest throughout Indonesia, triggered by economic problems including food shortages and mass unemployment, eventually led to the resignation of President Suharto and the fall of the New Order.
1998 Guinea-Bissau coup attempt
1999
1999 Tashkent bombings: In addition to terrorist attacks in different parts of the capital of Uzbekistan, there was an attempt to assassinate Islam Karimov and an explosion at the Cabinet of Ministers building before the government meeting. Some, including in the government of Uzbekistan, called it an attempted coup by Islamist forces.
2000 Fijian coup d'état: A civilian coup by hardline i-Taukei nationalists against the elected government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry occurred on 19 May. President Kamisese Mara attempted to assert executive authority on 27 May, but gave his resignation, possibly forced, on 29 May. An interim government headed by Commodore Frank Bainimarama was set up, and handed power over to an interim administration headed by Ratu Josefa Iloilo, as president, on 13 July.
2000 Solomon Islands coup d'état: Rebel Malaita Eagle Forces led a coup against Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu. Ulufa'alua was forced to resign, and was replaced by Manasseh Sogavare.[99]
2000 Paraguayan coup attempt
2000 Cambodian coup d'état attempt
2001
2001 Ivorian coup attempt
2001 Burundian coup attempt: A group of junior army officers attempted a coup against President Pierre Buyoya, who was out of the country. The conspirators briefly occupied a state-run radio station before being removed by forces loyal to the president.
2001 Central African Republic coup attempt: Commandos of the Central African Armed Forces attempted to overthrow President Ange-Félix Patassé. The coup failed, though violence continued in the capital for several days after.
2001 Haitian coup attempt
2002
2002 Central African Republic coup attempt: Bozize loyalists militia attacked Bangui on 25 October 2002 to remove Ange-Félix Patassé from power. The battle lasted for six days and the government forces, with the support from Libya and Movement for the Liberation of the Congo, managed to thwart the coup attempt.
2002 Ivorian coup attempt: A coup may have been attempted on 19 September, the first night of the First Ivorian Civil War. Former president Robert Guéï was killed; state government claimed it had happened as he attempted to lead a coup, but it was widely claimed that Guéï and fifteen others had been murdered in his home and his body moved.
2002 Venezuelan coup attempt: PresidentHugo Chávez was ousted from office for 47 hours before being restored to power with the help of popular support (mostly labor unions) and members of the military.
2003 Mauritanian coup attempt: Former Major Saleh Ould Hanenna led a rebel section of the Army to attempt a coup against President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya. The soldiers were completely defeated by troops loyal to the President.[101]
2003 São Tomé and Príncipe coup attempt: Major Fernando Pereira launched a coup against the government of President Fradique de Menezes. After a week with the Army in power, conspirators relinquished control following negotiations with the government.
Oakwood mutiny in the Philippines: A group of military defectors who came to be known as the Magdalo (mutineers) forcibly occupied the Oakwood Premier apartments and demanded the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other officials. They relinquished the apartments about 20 hours later after negotiations.
2003 Guinea-Bissau coup d'état: General Veríssimo Correia Seabra led a bloodless military coup against President Kumba Ialá.
2003 Burkina Faso coup attempt: A plot to overthrow President Blaise Compaoré was discovered and thwarted.
2004 Chadian coup attempt: A coup attempt against President Idriss Déby was suppressed after a brief exchange of fire.
2004 Democratic Republic of the Congo coup attempt: A plot to overthrow Joseph Kabila orchestrated by Eric Lenge was foiled.
2004 Equatorial Guinea coup attempt (also known as the Wonga Coup): A plot was developed to replace President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo with exiled opposition politician, Severo Moto Nsá. However, the mercenaries who had been hired by mostly British financiers were arrested in Zimbabwe before they could carry out the plot.
Sarıkız, Ayışığı, Yakamoz and Eldiven were the names of alleged Turkish military coup plans in 2004.
Coup in Madagascar: the army seized one of the presidential palaces on 16 March 2009, at which president Marc Ravalomanana was not present. The proposal offered by the president for a referendum to solve the crisis was rejected. On 17 March 2009, Marc Ravalomanana resigned under pressure from the military.
2009 Georgian mutiny: An alleged abortive mutiny by a Georgian Army tank battalion based in Mukhrovani village with a goal of removing President Mikheil Saakashvili from power.[107][108][109]
On 24 April 2009, the Ethiopian government claimed, through the Ethiopian News Agency, that it had foiled a coup attempt led by members of Ginbot 7 to overthrow the government.[112] Ginbot 7 described the allegation that it had attempted a coup as a "baseless accusation" that fitted a pattern of distraction and scapegoating by the government.[113]
2011 Egyptian coup d'état: Following mass protests and an army's communiqué, Mubarak resigned. According to art.84 of 1971 Egyptian constitution, speaker of the People's Assembly Sorour should have succeeded him, but Tantawi took power instead.[118][119][120][121]
2011 Democratic Republic of the Congo coup attempt
2011 Bangladesh coup attempt
2011 Nigerien coup attempt: A group of Dissenting factions of the armed forces launched failed attempt to overthrow Mahamadou Issoufou from his presidential position.
On 12 April Guinea-Bissau Coup by Army Vice Chief of Staff General Mamadu Ture Kuruma against Acting President Raimundo Pereira and ex-Prime Minister and presidential candidate Carlos Gomes Júnior.
2012 Sudanese coup attempt was an attempt on 22 November president Omar al-Bashir, who took power in the 1989 Sudanese coup d'état. 13 were arrested during the coup attempt, according to the media.[134][135]
2013
The Eritrean opposition claimed that there was an attempted coup on 21 January 2013.[136]
26 September – 3 October 2015: Failed attempt by Haroun Gaye and Eugene Ngaïkosset to overthrow president of the Central African Republic Catherine Samba-Panza.[150]
A coup d'état plot was foiled in Austria in April. The leader Monika Unger and others were arrested after they tried to organise an army-led coup.[160]
2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état: Harare, Zimbabwe. In the early hours of 15 November 2017, an army spokesman announced the military takeover of government. This was after the army had seized control of the state run television broadcasting station. During the night before they had stormed the president's private residence and placed the head of state, President Robert Mugabe under house arrest. The military police also captured and detained some cabinet ministers whom they labelled criminals around the president. It would succeed with the resignation of Mugabe on 21 November 2017.[164]
In December an attempted coup against the government in Equatorial Guinea.[165]
2019 Amhara Region coup attempt: On 22 June 2019, factions of the security forces of Amhara Region, Ethiopia, attempted a coup against the regional government after a series of assassinations.
On September 20, 2019, 3 people were arrested for taking part in a coup plot in Ghana.[175]
On 20 October, a senior army officer in Sudan announced that some retired members of the Popular Defence Forces and officers under leader Brigadier General Mohammed Ibrahim Abdul-Jalil had foiled a coup plot. The Sudanese government has not confirmed this claim.[179]
2020-2021
2020–21 Central African Republic coup d'état attempt: In December 2020 major rebel groups in Central African Republic led by former president François Bozizé formed Coalition of Patriots for Change trying to overthrow the government. Rebel groups attacked Bangui on 13 January but were repulsed by government forces.[180][181]
January 6 United States Capitol attack and other Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election: Joe Biden was elected as president in November 2020, defeating the incumbent, Donald Trump.[182] Trump and numerous other Republicans repeatedly made false claims that widespread electoral fraud had occurred and that only he had legitimately won the election.[a] Although most resulting lawsuits were either dismissed or ruled against by numerous courts,[b] Trump nonetheless conspired[183]: 33–53 with his campaign team to submit documents in several states (all of which Biden had won) that falsely claimed to be legitimate electoral votes for President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.[c] After the submission of these documents, the Trump campaign intended that the presiding officer of the United States Senate, either President of the Senate Pence or President pro temporeChuck Grassley, would claim the unilateral power to reject electors during the January 6, 2021 vote counting session; the presiding officer would reject all electors from the several states for which the Trump campaign had submitted false documents, leaving 232 votes for Trump and 222 votes for Biden, thereby overturning the election results in Trump's favor.[d] This plan failed after Pence refused to cooperate with it.[e] Trump nevertheless urged his supporters on January 6 to march to the Capitol while the joint session of Congress was assembled there to count electoral votes and formalize Biden's victory, whereupon hundreds of people stormed the building and interrupted the count. After the Capitol was cleared, Congress officially counted the election results, with Pence, in his role as president of the Senate, announcing Biden and Harris as the winners.[202] On January 7, Trump acknowledged the incoming administration without mentioning Biden's name.[203] Biden was inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States on January 20, 2021.[204][205] On January 20, 2025, the first day of his second presidency, Trump granted blanket clemency to all Capitol attack defendants.[206]
2021 Armenian coup d'état attempt: On 25 February, the Armenian Armed Forces chief of staff Onik Gasparyan called on Prime Minister of ArmeniaNikol Pashinyan to resign due to his handling of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and after the dismissal of the first deputy-head of army.[209]
2021 Nigerien coup attempt: On 31 March, elements within the military attempted a coup. After gunfire at the presidential palace, Presidential Guard fended off the attack and many of its alleged perpetrators were later detained.[210][211]
2021 arrests in Jordan: On 3 April, Jordanian authorities arrested top officials and members of the royal family, including former Crown Prince Hamzah bin Hussein, for involvement in an attempted coup.[212]
2021 Afghan coup d'état: On 15 August, the Taliban captured the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul, and removed the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan under President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani from power.
2021 Guinean coup d'état: On 5 September, military forces of Guinea led by Mamady Doumbouya, invaded the presidential palace and arrested the president.[217]
October–November 2021 Sudanese coup d'état: On 25 October, the military forces of Sudan launched a successful coup against the government. The prime minister Abdalla Hamdok was arrested, the government was dissolved and a state of emergency was declared by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.[219] Hamdok was later reinstated in November but resigned in 2022 amid continuing protests.[220]
French security agencies shut down an alleged coup plan led by Rémy Daillet-Wiedemann.[221][222][223]
2021 Ukrainian coup d'état attempt: In November 2021, top Ukrainian government officials outlined allegations of a plot to overthrow the government of Ukraine which was to take place in early December. The coup plot was allegedly orchestrated by Russia. Some months later, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, with the toppling of the Ukrainian government being one of its objectives.[224]
January 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état: In late January, the Burkinabé military staged a coup against Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.[226]
2022 Guinea-Bissau coup attempt: A coup d'état was attempted in Guinea-Bissau on 1 February 2022. President Umaro Sissoco Embalo said that "many" members of the security forces had been killed in a "failed attack against democracy".[227]
2022 Democratic Republic of the Congo coup d'état allegations
2022 Ukrainian coup d'état attempt: Russian intelligence agency FSB and recruited ATO veterans were set to take control of various Ukrainian cities, install pro-Russian leaders in them and transfer those cities to the Russian army during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, as plans for coup were discovered by Ukrainian authorities, people who were set to participate in it were detained by SBU.[228][229]
September 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état: A coup d'état took place in Burkina Faso on 30 September 2022, removing Interim President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba over his alleged inability to deal with the country's Islamist insurgency. Damiba had come to power in a coup d'état eight months earlier. Captain Ibrahim Traoré took over as interim leader.[231]
2022 Brazilian coup plot
2022 São Tomé and Príncipe coup attempt: An attempted coup d'état was reported to have taken place on the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe overnight on 24–25 November 2022.[232]
2022 German coup d'état plot: On 7 December 2022, 25 members of a suspected far-right terrorist group were arrested for allegedly planning a coup d'état in Germany.[233] The group, called Patriotic Union (German: Patriotische Union), which was led by a Council (German: Rat),[234] was a part of the German far-right extremist Reichsbürger movement.[235] The group aimed to re-establish a monarchist government in Germany in the tradition of the German Reich, with the government being similar to the German Empire. The group allegedly wanted to provoke chaos and a civil war in Germany so that it could take power.[236]
2022 Peruvian self-coup attempt: On 7 December 2022, the left-wing President of PeruPedro Castillo attempted to dissolve the Congress in the face of imminent impeachment proceedings by the legislative body, which would have been the third impeachment attempt against the President in less than 2 years. Due to broadly interpreted wording in the 1993 Constitution of Peru, the Congress can impeach the President of Peru for "moral incapacity", among other causes, while the president can legally dissolve congress only if two cabinets have been denied a vote of confidence.[237][238]
Attempted coup d'état in Sudan in 2023: Clashes broke out between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, and the Sudanese Armed Forces. The fighting began with attacks by the Rapid Support Forces on key government sites, and both forces dispute control between the Presidential Palace, Khartoum International Airport, the Army chief's official residence, and several different military bases located around the country.[244][245][246][247]
2023 Nigerien coup d'état: On 26 July 2023, President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown in a coup plot led by Niger Air Force Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane.[254] The reasoning for the coup announced by Abdramane via national broadcast was dissatisfaction was "due to the deteriorating security situation and bad governance."[255] The coup would lead to the 2023 Nigerien crisis.
2023 Sierra Leone coup plot: The police arrested 19 people, including fourteen serving personnel of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, two officers of the Sierra Leone Police and one retired chief superintendent of police who were allegedly planning a coup between August 7 and 10.[256][257][258] In addition, five military officers and three police officers have a search and capture warrant.[256]
2023 Gabon coup: Following the 2023 Gabonese general election, and president of Gabon's Ali Bongo Ondimba's declaration of victory, soldiers from the presidential guard announced the cancellation of the election, and the "dissolution of the regime".[259][260]
2023 Burkina Faso coup attempt: An attempted overthrow of the ruling junta by members of the military failed.[261][262]
2024 Democratic Republic of the Congo coup attempt: Congo's military arrested perpetrators after a failed coup attempt in Gombe, Kinshasa on May 19.[271][272]
2024 Bolivian coup attempt: On 26 June, general Juan José Zúñiga led a failed coup attempt in the Bolivian capital La Paz,[273] at one point entering the Palacio Quemado, the former presidential palace.[274]
Kyrgyz security services arrested five on charges of organising a coup attempt on July 5.[277][278][279]
2024 Bangladeshi judicial coup allegations: Following the resignation of Prime Minister, sheikh Hasina in the aftermath of the July revolution in Bangladesh, Certain Supreme Court judges were alleged to have called a full court to invalidate the newly formed interim government.[280][281]
2024 South Korean self-coup attempt: President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted a self-coup by declaring martial law. It ultimately failed when 190 MPs were able to bypass a military blockade and voted to overturn the martial law declaration. The attempt resulted in Yoon's impeachment, removal and arrest.[290][291]
2024 Romanian presidential election Invalidation by the Constitutional Court due to alleged "Russian interference" despite no irregularities in the voting process, and disqualification of the Winning Candidate for the Re-run of the Election, has been called a "Judicial coup" by many in the country.
Coup d'état in Syria in 2024: On 8 December 2024, the Assad regime collapsed during a major offensive by opposition forces.
2025
2025 N'Djamena attack: An armed commando unit attacked the presidential palace in the capital N'Djamena in Chad, killing at least 18 of its 24 members on January 9.[292][293]
The actions of the Department of Government Efficiency, in the United States, led by Elon Musk, have been described as a "takeover", "freeze", or "coup" by members of the Democratic Party and media.[f]
2025 Malagasy coup d'état: CAPSAT, a unit of the Madagascar Armed Forces, joined anti-government protesters before announcing control of the entire military, resulting in Andry Rajoelina fleeing the country and being overthrown.
2025 Guinea-Bissau coup d'état: On 26 November, a coup d'état was carried out by the army chief of staff and military officers, arresting the country's president Umaro Sissoco Embaló. The couping forces declared "total control" over the country and established the High Military Command for the Restoration of Order. The coup occurred days after the 2025 Guinea-Bissau general election held on 23 November, in which Embaló was running for reelection.[321]
^Bingham, Woodbridge (1950). "Li Shih-min's coup in A. D. 626. I: The climax of princely rivalry". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 70 (2): 89–95. doi:10.2307/595537. JSTOR595537.
^Ehsan Yar-Shater (1982). Encyclopaedia Iranica. Vol. 2. Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 165. Uzun Ḥasan successfully resumed the war with the Qara Qoyunlū and in the autumn of 856/1452 seized Āmed in a bloodless coup while Jahāngīr was away on a military expedition in Kurdistan.
^Costeloe, M. P. (2002). The Central Republic in Mexico, 1835-1846: 'Hombres de Bien' in the Age of Santa Anna. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. Pg.256-261
^Hudson, Rex A.; Hanratty, Dennis M., eds. (1989). "Political Instability and Economic Decline, 1839–79". Bolivia: A Country Study. countrystudies.us (Report). Washington, D. C.: Government Printing Office for the Library of Congress. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
^Cullather, Nick (1999). Secret History: The CIA's classified account of its operations in Guatemala, 1952–1954. Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-3311-2.
^Peyton, Buddy; Bajjalieh, Joseph; Shalmon, Dan; Martin, Michael; Bonaguro, Jonathan (2021): Cline Center Coup D'état Project Dataset. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. https://doi.org/10.13012/B2IDB-9651987_V3
^à 00h00, Par Le 26 juin 2003 (25 June 2003). "La tentative de putsch a été meurtrière". leparisien.fr (in French). Retrieved 28 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^"Picking up the Pieces in the Central African Republic". 29 January 2021. The government is deeply aggrieved at the perceived failure of some opposition leaders to clearly distance themselves from the coup attempt mounted by Bozizé
^"Coup-Proofing: Russia's Military Blueprint to Securing Resources in Africa". 10 March 2021. These forces, joined by Rwandan troops, MINUSCA, and the country's Russian-trained military, retook three towns and major roads near the capital, successfully repelling the coup and allowing the election to move forward
^license, Milwaukee Independent under; Press, in cooperation with the Associated; in 1846, the Pulitzer Prize winning independent news gathering source founded (5 February 2025). "A clear and present danger: How Elon Musk masterminded a coup to seize the U.S. government". Milwaukee Independent. Retrieved 5 February 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)