A majority of Africans say they would accept a military takeover of government if elected leaders were abusing power, a survey carried out across 39 countries by Afrobarometer showed.
Per the report, titled African insights 2024 Democracy at risk – the people’s perspective, there is a noticeable variation in how African countries reject military rule, with some showing strong opposition while others are less decisive.
Zambia tops the chart with a resounding, 90% of its population rejecting the idea of military government, closely followed by Uganda (87%), Eswatini (85%), and Seychelles (85%).
In stark contrast, Mali and Burkina Faso, which are currently under military rule following recent coups, show much lower rejection rates—only 18% of Malians and 25% of Burkinabè oppose this form of government. Similarly, Niger (44%) and Tunisia (42%), which have also faced recent coups or major democratic challenges, reflect a minority view against military rule.
It wasn’t always this way. A decade ago, majorities in all 30 countries were opposed to military leadership. However, Mali and Burkina Faso have seen dramatic shifts, with their rejection rates dropping by 40 and 37 percentage points, respectively, making them the most accepting of military rule today.
Similarly, 14 other countries have experienced significant declines, including Côte d’Ivoire (-27 points), Cameroon (-19 points), and Ghana (-18 points). Overall, 23 out of 30 countries have seen decreases of 4 points or more. Morocco stands out as the sole exception, with an increase of 12 points in opposition to military rule over the past decade.
Below are the top 10 African countries where citizens would accept coup to oust bad leaders:
| Rank | Country | Rejection of military rule |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Mali* |
18 |
|
2 |
Burkina Faso* |
25 |
|
3 |
Tunisia |
42 |
|
4 |
Niger* |
44 |
|
5 |
Sudan* |
50 |
|
6 |
Togo |
53 |
|
7 |
South Africa |
54 |
|
8 |
Cameroon |
55 |
|
9 |
Guinea * |
57 |
|
10 |
Côte d’Ivoire |
58 |
