Why some African countries are prone to military takeovers

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — It had become a familiar scene in West Africa. A group of soldiers appeared on state television in Benin on Sunday to claim they had seized power. A few hours later, the president announced the coup had been foiled. Just two weeks earlier, soldiers seized power in another West African country, Guinea-Bissau, after a closely contested presidential election. Since 2020, nine countries in Africa have experienced coups. Here is what to know about why some nations on the c