How Do Military Coups Happen? Full Breakdown for Beginners

A military coup (full name: coup d’état) is when the armed forces illegally seize political power from a government.

It is usually fast, coordinated, and relies heavily on taking control before the public or loyal forces can respond.

Here’s a simple, clear breakdown of how a coup typically works:

1. Planning in Secret

A small group of senior military officers or units secretly plot the takeover.

They will:

• Recruit trusted soldiers
• Identify loyalists within the government
• Decide the exact date and time (often at night or early morning)
• Assign roles (who arrests who, who controls what)

Secrecy is everything during the coup event. Once exposed, it fails.

2. Neutralizing the Leadership

Their first move is usually to remove or detain top government officials, for example:

• President/Prime Minister
• Defense minister
• Police chiefs
• Intelligence service heads

If they can’t capture the leader, they isolate them—cut communications, block movement, surround their residence.

3. Taking Over Strategic Locations

This part happens in minutes or hours.

The coup forces take control of:

•National TV/radio stations

•Communication hubs (internet exchange, telecom HQ)

•Military bases

•Police headquarters

•Parliament or government house

•Airports and border posts

If you control communication + movement + weapons, you control the country.

4. Controlling the Narrative

Immediately after control, they announce:

•The government has been “removed”

•A new “transitional military council” is in charge

•Reasons (corruption, insecurity, economic collapse)

•Promises (free elections soon, peace restoration)

They use national TV and radio because most people trust those sources first.

5. Securing the Capital

Coup leaders send troops to:

•Patrol the streets

•Enforce curfews

•Prevent protests

•Block rival military units from mobilizing

If they hold the capital city, they usually hold the nation.

6. Gaining Loyalty of Other Forces

They quickly seek support from:

•Other military units across the country

•Police forces

•Governors

•Traditional rulers

•Foreign governments

A coup is strongest when other officers accept it instead of resisting.

7. Dealing With Resistance

If loyalist factions fight back, the coup might turn into:

•A brief firefight

•A standoff

•A full-blown civil conflict (rare but possible)

Most coups succeed because resistance collapses early.

Is a coup legal?

No. It’s unconstitutional, illegal, and considered treason under most national laws and international norms.

Why do coups happen?

The mist Common reasons for coups are:

•Economic hardship

•Corruption claims

•Election disputes

•Power struggles within the military

•Weak or unpopular government

•Security collapse (terrorism, insurgency)

NB: This explanation is for educational and historical understanding only.