Military to Presidency: The Global History of Soldiers Who Became National Leaders

Oct 18, 2025 04:26 pm CST

This article examines the historical pattern of military officers rising to presidential power, highlighting five significant examples from around the world including Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing, Uganda's Idi Amin, Turkey's Kenan Evren, Ghana's Jerry Rawlings, and Chile's Augusto Pinochet. Following recent events in Madagascar where Colonel Michael Randrianirina took control after protests forced President Rajoelina into exile, these cases demonstrate how military figures have repeatedly transitioned from barracks to presidential palaces, often with profound consequences for their nations.