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List of 6 African presidents who were forced out of power

Authors:

Mark Mwithaga

End of an era

Hosni Mubarak, Robert Mugabe and Blaise Compaoré
Hosni Mubarak, Robert Mugabe and Blaise Compaoré

Sudan President Omar al Bashir on Thursday joined five other presidents who were forced out of power after having ruled for over 30.

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Here is the list of the six Head of State’s:

Omar al Bashir

Bashir was pressured to step down after months of continuous protests that almost destabilized the country.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir Pulse Live Kenya

Reports indicated that the objections to his rule started in 2018 as a result of the high cost of living that had kept going up.

Bashir was thrown out of office through a coup which was similar to how he first became president of the nation.

Abdelaziz Bouteflika

Algerian President Bouteflika succumbed to pressure in April 2019 and resigned after weeks of street protest.

The ailing former head of state revealed that he had made the decision in a bid to save the future of the Muslim nation.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika AFP

The veteran politician who brought an end to 20 years of being in office, personally handed in his resignation letter to the Constitutional Council.

Before the landmark decision, he had previously announced that he would seek a fifth term in office but later withdrew the bid.

Robert Mugabe

Mugabe left office in 2017 after he was overthrown by the Zimbabwean military and former political friends, bringing an end to his 37-year rule.

The citizens of the country took to the streets to celebrate the news after terming the former president as a dictator.

President Mugabe
President Mugabe ece-auto-gen

His efforts to remain in power were dealt a blow after the ruling party ZANU-PF sided with the military and asked him to leave.

Trouble for Mugabe began when he fired his vice president Mnangagwa with the aim of having his wife Grace Mugabe succeed him as president.

The 93-year-old finally gave up on the fight after parliament humiliated him through the instigation of an impeachment motion.

Hosni Mubarak

In 2011, Mubarak quit as the Egyptian president after 18 days of mass protest and handed power over to the military.

Hosni Mubarak ruled Egypt for three decades
Hosni Mubarak ruled Egypt for three decades AFP

During his 30-year reign, the politician had been reported to have jailed opponents and quashed protest and dissent.

The then President of the United States Barack Obama, had called for the country to adopt a civilian and democratic rule after the announcement.

Laurent Gbagbo

Ivory Coast president Gbagbo left office in 2011 after being overthrown by forces that were in partnership with his rival for the seat, Alassane Ouattara.

Ivory Coast ex-president Laurent Gbagbo
Ivory Coast ex-president Laurent Gbagbo Pulse Ghana

Gbagbo in 2010 had lost the elections but refused to concede defeat and remained as the Head of State after he waged war against his challenger, who was trapped in hotel during the confrontation.

The French and the United Nations forcefully put Ouattara as the new president, a move that led to a standoff that resulted into a civil war.

Blaise Compaoré

Burkina Faso President Compaoré’s 27 years in power had been brought to an end after a military coupe that forced him into exile.

He quit office after protests broke out when it was claimed he wanted to extend his term as president.

Former Burkina Faso Blaise Compaoré
Former Burkina Faso Blaise Compaoré Pulse Live Kenya

The unit which was led by Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida, attacked the presidential palace where it had been reported that an exchange of fire forced Compaoré to flee as closure and curfew measures were implemented by the military leader.

Following the attack, Compaoré announced his resignation and declared elections would be carried out within a period of 90 days.

Authors:

Mark Mwithaga

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