logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2023
14m 22s

Coups and Dynasties: Are Africa’s “nepo ...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

For some countries in Africa ruling is very much a family business. Ali Bongo was president of Gabon for 14 years. But that’s nothing compared to his father, who ruled for 41 years. And Mr Bongo will not go on to beat his dad’s record. He’s the latest African leader to be deposed in a coup. There have now been eight in Central and West African states in the last three years. With growing discontent for the traditional, elite families that have dominated many countries for decades we’re asking if Africa’s “nepo baby” leaders are getting nervous. Plus how do these coups happen and how do people pull them off? We speak to Professor Rory Cormac from the University of Nottingham about the plotters who risk it all for power.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Beverly Ochieng Producers: Alex Rhodes and William Lee Adams Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Up next
Today
‘I Will Always Love You’: Why the world is mourning Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton was a country music star like no other. Following her death from cancer on Tuesday, everyone from President Donald Trump to Beyoncé has expressed condolences online. But the public mourning isn’t just about Dolly’s catalogue of hits like “I Will Always Love You,” “Jo ... Show More
12m 46s
Yesterday
The most detailed pictures of the Sun… EVER
Scientists have snapped some shiny new pictures of the Sun in the most detail we’ve ever seen. They used a super powerful solar telescope to show "whirlpools" of activity which are the Sun’s magnetic field being twisted and moved by the motion of hot gas.Victoria Gill, our Scienc ... Show More
9m 34s
Aug 24
Will the Divine app revive six-second loops on social media?
Divine, a short-form video-sharing app, lets users create and share videos which are just six seconds long and repeat on a loop. It’s inspired by Vine, an app founded in 2012 that, at its peak, had more than 200 million monthly active users. It helped launch the careers of some o ... Show More
9m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2022
Why have military coups returned to West Africa?
Elected governments have been overthrown by military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea. Each has some popular support as people grow frustrated with their political elites. But will military lead governments perform better than civilians ones in these West African countries ... Show More
23m 45s
Jul 2022
How do political dynasties impact African politics?
Political dynasties are an ongoing debate as Kenya elects a new president on August 9. President Uhuru Kenyatta will leave office after 10 years in power. He comes from a strong political legacy. His father was Kenya’s first president after independence – Jomo Kenyatta. Among tho ... Show More
16m 39s
Aug 2023
Bonus: What’s Behind the Coup in Niger?
Last week’s coup in Niger is the latest in a string of recent military takeovers in Africa—seemingly the final domino to fall in a region plagued by instability and the battle between Russia and the West for influence in the Sahel. Coup leaders are now facing an ultimatum from th ... Show More
17m 28s