There have been seven successful coup attempts in Africa in the last three years, raising concerns about the decline of democracy on the continent.
In January, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, while condemning the first coup in Burkina Faso, asked all coup leaders to lay down their weapons and protect the country’s institutions.
Eight months after Mr Guterres’s statement, another successful coup occurred in the West African country.
He again condemned attempts to seize power by the force of arms and called on all actors to refrain from violence and seek dialogue.
“Burkina Faso needs peace, stability, and unity to fight terrorist groups and criminal networks operating in parts of the country,” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Mr Guterres, in a statement.
Africa’s coup history
Coups are not new to Africa, home to about 1.4 billion people, about one-fifth of the global population.
After most African countries gained independence in the mid to late…
