In this article, we look at five countries with the longest ongoing military rule as of 2023. You can read about the impact of both authoritarianism and democracy on economic growth by heading over to our article — 8 Countries Ruled by Military Dictatorship in 2023.
5. Sudan
Ruled by the Military since: October 2021
On October 25, 2021, the Sudanese military seized full control of the country and dismissed the civilian government led by Abdalla Hamdok. The military justified the move citing infighting among the civilian leadership which they claimed threatened the stability of the country.
Sudan’s economic woes have further worsened since then and the country is reeling economically after western countries paused financial assistance and aid for the country.
4. Guinea
Ruled by the Military since: September 2021
Right since independence from France in 1958, Guinea has been ruled by dictatorial regimes, starting with the rule of Marxist authoritarian Ahmed Sékou Touré who led the country until his death in 1984. His demise sparked a military coup led by General Lansana Conté who continued Toure’s legacy of authoritarianism until he died in 2008.
Guinea’s first all-civilian governments were formed first in 2010 and then 2013, under educationist Alpha Condé, who was deposed in 2021 by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who is now the serving interim president of Guinea.
3. Chad
Ruled by the Military since: April 2021
Chad is one of the most unstable countries in the world, and has a history of being led by military dictatorships. In 1987, President Hissène Habré, who was believed to be backed by the United States, was overthrown in a coup by General Idriss Déby, who then went on to run the country for 30 years between 1991 and 2021 by securing allegedly fraudulent electoral victories during his reign.
Déby was killed by Chadian rebels in 2021, after which his son, Gen. Mahamat Idriss Déby, a serving four-star military officer, has led the country as the head of the transitional government of Chad.
2. Myanmar
Ruled by the Military since: February 2021
Myanmar gained independence from the British in 1948 as a democratic nation, but has remained under military rule for much of its history. The army ruled the country from 1962 till 2011, and again seized power in 2021 after a brief period of democratization in the country.
The country has faced several rounds of sanctions placed by the United States and its European allies since 2021, and that has seen many large multinational organizations exiting from the country. Most notably those belonging to the energy and telecom sectors.
1. Mali
Ruled by the Military since: August 2020
Mali is another African country that has been marred with military intervention in politics and is being ruled by military dictatorship for the last few years. Colonel Assimi Goïta is currently the president of the interim government of Mali, after he led a military force, known as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, that seized power from the government of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in 2020.
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