Gabon Becomes Seventh African Nation to Experience Military Coup
Gabon, a Central African country, has fallen victim to a military coup, marking the seventh such incident in Africa over the last two years. The Gabonese army, operating under the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), ousted President Ali Bongo, placed him under house arrest, and assumed control of the oil-rich nation.
General Brice Oligui Nguema was appointed transitional president. This coup adds to a series of political instabilities, including those in Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Sudan, and Niger. The international community, including Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, the UN, EU, AU, Commonwealth, US, Russia, and France, has expressed concern and deplored the situation. The AU condemned the attempt, while the US closely monitors the situation. The EU defense ministers discussed the event and stressed the need to preserve democratic governance. Tinubu emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law in Africa. France, a former colonial power, condemned the coup, while the Commonwealth voiced its concerns. Amidst this turmoil, Ali Bongo appealed to friends globally, while the nation remains tense in the face of a military upheaval.
Gabon has seven of the continent’s longest-serving presidents.
In Africa, another coup has occurred. This time, it is Gabon, where a group of army officers announced that they had ended the joint 56-year reign of Omar Bongo and his son, Ali.
The putschists said they were overturning the results of Saturday’s election, which saw President Ali Bongo extend his 14-year reign.
If successful, it will be the continent’s tenth coup, with Niger Republic being the most recent.
Many commentators have cited the persistence of some African dictators in power as one of the reasons for the continent’s more regular coups. There have been seven African Presidents in all.
- Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (44).
Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has been in office since 1979, making him the longest-serving African leader. President Obiang was known as a ruthless tyrant during his early years in power. He was in charge of a government that tortured and killed political opponents.
Human rights organisations have been critical of President Obiang’s continuous mistreatment of the Equatorial Guinean people in recent years.
- Paul Biya (age 42)
Paul Biya’s reign in Cameroon is far from over.
President Biya, who took power in a coup in 1982, has ruled the country since. During the early years of his reign, he was known as He was known as a tyrannical leader.
He reduced his grip on the country in the 1990s, allowing multiparty elections. He has, nevertheless, remained in power ever since.
President Biya has received criticism from human rights organisations for his continuous mistreatment of the Cameroonian people.
3.Denis Sassou (36 years old)
Denis Sassou has presided over the Republic of the Congo for the past 36 years. He took control in 1979 and has been re-elected three times since then. At the age of 80, Sassou is one of Africa’s oldest rulers of state.
Over three decades in power, he has been the target of criticism and claims ranging from corruption to poor governance and human rights violations. However, that has never been enough for him to call it quits.
- Mswati III (36-year reign)
King Mswati III has ruled Eswatini, Africa’s only absolute monarchy, for 36 years. He was only 18 when he came to the throne in April 1986.
5. Yoweri Museveni (35 years old)
Yoweri Museveni has been Uganda’s president for 35 years. He was initially elected in 1986 and has been re-elected three times since then. At 79, Museveni is Africa’s third-oldest head of state.
According to critics, Museveni has become increasingly authoritarian over the years, silencing criticism and limiting civil freedoms.
There have been calls for term limits in Uganda in recent years, but Museveni has resisted these efforts. He altered the constitution in 2017 to abolish the president’s age limit, thereby allowing him to remain in power indefinitely.
Isaias Afwerki (30 years old)
6. For the past 30 years, Eritrea’s president has been Isaias Afwerki. After leading the country’s independence movement from Ethiopia, he initially came to power in 1993. Since then, Afwerki has been re-elected thrice.
Eritrea is also one of the most militarized countries in the world, with all able-bodied residents being compelled to serve in the military. As a result, many Eritreans have fled the nation in search of safety and opportunity overseas
7. Paul Kagam will run for re-election in 2024. He has been in power from the year 2000.
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