In the early hours of 22 March 2012, news of a military coup d’état in Mali spread across the world. Claiming a lack of adequate means and resources to fight Tuareg insurgents in the north of the country, military officers announced on state television that they had seized control and deposed President Amadou Toumani Toure. No more than three weeks later, on 12 April 2012, Guinea Bissau’s Government was toppled by elements of the country’s military after alleged plans by the former to downsize the military. Interestingly, both coups occurred only a couple of weeks prior to scheduled presidential elections.
