Coups Since 2000

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

The following table lists major military coups around the world from 2000 to the present. Countries with deposed political leaders include Honduras, Togo, Fiji, Thailand, Haiti, Mauritania, Venezuela, and more.

Month/Year Country Circumstances
Jan. 2000 Ecuador President Jamil Mahuad overthrown in the first military coup in Latin America in a decade.
May 2000 Fiji Fijian nationalists, led by George Speight, deposed President Mahendra Chaudhry.
April 2002 Venezuela President Hugo Chavez overthrown by military; reinstated two days later after international criticism.
March 2003 Central African Republic Prime Minister Ange-Félix Patassé deposed by rebel leader Francois Bozize.
July 2003 São Tomé and Príncipe Military coup deposes President Fradique de Menezes; he is reinstated a week later following international pressure. Sept. 2003, Guinea-Bissau: President Kumba Yalá overthr
Sept. 2003 Guinea-Bissau President Kumba Yalá overthrown in military coup.
Feb. 2004 Haiti President Jean-Bertrand Aristide overthrown by rebel groups.
Feb. 2004 Togo After death of President Etienne Eyadema, the military installed his son, Faure Gnassingbe.
Aug., 2005 Mauritania Military coup deposes president Maaouye Ould Sidi Ahmed Taya.
Sept. 2006 Thailand Military coup deposes Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
Dec. 2006 Fiji Military coup deposes Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase
Aug. 2008 Mauritania Military coup deposes Prime Minister Sidi Mohamed Ould Boubacar and President Sidi Ould Sheik Abdellahi
June 2009 Honduras Military coup deposes President Manuel Zelaya
February 2010 Niger Military coup deposes President Mamadou Tandja
February 2012 Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed is forced from office by police and members of the military
March 2012 Mali President Toure is overthrown in a coup by mutineering soldiers
April 2012 Guinea-Bissau Acting president Raimundo Pereira and acting prime minister Adiato Diallo Nandigna are removed in a coup on April 12.
July 2013 Egypt President Mohamed Morsi is ousted by the Egyptian army, led by General Abdul Fatah al-Sisi.
May 2014 Thailand Interim Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan is removed from office by the Thai military, led by Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha.
October 2014 Burkina Faso In a complicated turn of events, President Blaise Compaoré resigned and fled the country amid a popular uprising over his attempt to push a bill through parliament to allow him to serve another term. Gen. HonorC) NabC)rC) TraorC) claimed to be head of state and deployed troops into the streets. However, Lt. Col. Isaac Zida, the No. 2 figure in the presidential guard, resisted TraorC), and won the support of other commanders and became head of state.
January 2015 Yemen The Houthis, a Shiite insurgent group led by Abdulmalik Houthi, surrounded the presidential palace complex, with President Hadi inside, and took his chief of staff hostage. On Jan. 22, Hadi and his cabinet resigned, citing the Houthis' failure to abide by the cease-fire.

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