The series of gunshots that disrupted the quiet of Libreville, the capital of Gabon, on Wednesday, marked the most recent occurrence of a military coup in Africa, making it the tenth such incident on the continent since 2017.
The impact of the gunfire’s echoes reached far beyond Gabon, resonating across Africa and the world.
Just a month after the Nigerien presidential guards forcibly removed President Mohamed Bazoum’s democratically elected government, the situation unfolding in Gabon has raised serious concerns globally.
A group of twelve soldiers took to Gabonese national television on that Wednesday morning, announcing the nullification of recent election outcomes and the dissolution of “all republic institutions.”
This announcement followed the re-election of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, aged 64, for a third term, further extending his family’s half-century dominion over the oil-rich Central African nation, which is home to 2.3 million people.
The Bongo family, renowned as one of Africa’s most influential dynasties, has held power since 1967.
However, the opposition decried the election as a ‘fraudulent manipulation’ orchestrated by the ruling party.
President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who confirmed his house arrest, issued a plea for assistance, urging the populace to raise their voices. Nonetheless, reports suggest that celebrations have erupted in Libreville since the military takeover.
Speaking with France’s Le Monde newspaper, coup leader Brice Nguema assured that the president’s rights would be respected. “He remains a Gabonese head of state. He is retired and entitled to all his rights.
He’s an ordinary Gabonese citizen, just like everyone else,” Nguema stated.
The military leader refrained from declaring himself the new president of the Central African nation, emphasizing that there would be discussions among the generals to reach a consensus.
This dialogue, scheduled for 2 pm, aims to sift through ideas and select the best ones, including the choice of a transitional leader.
In a troubling trend that aligns with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ description of an ‘epidemic of coups d’état’ during the condemnation of Sudan’s military takeover in October 2021, the recent overthrow of ten democratically elected governments by their own armies underscores a resurgence of anti-democratic sentiment in Africa.
Data from American researchers Jonathan Powell and Clayton Thyne show that out of the 486 attempted or successful military coups worldwide since 1950, Africa accounts for a significant portion, with 214 instances, of which at least 106 have proven successful.
Statistical records reveal that at least 45 of the 54 African nations have faced at least one coup attempt since 1950.
This current wave of coups in Africa commenced in 2019 when Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir was ousted by the Sudanese Armed Forces following mass protests calling for his removal. The military, led by Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf, took control and declared a three-month state of emergency, eventually leading to a two-year transitional period.
Following this, Mali experienced a mutiny by parts of its Armed Forces on August 18, 2020, followed by a coup d’état.
The subsequent year, on May 24, 2021, Mali’s military removed President Bah N’daw, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, and Defense Minister Souleymane Doucouré, marking the country’s third coup in a decade.
In a domino effect, Tunisia faced its own coup on July 25, 2021, as the Hichem Mechichi government was overthrown, suspending the Assembly of Representatives of the People.
Meanwhile, Guinea’s President Alpha Condé was captured by the military on September 5, 2021, with the Special Forces leader dissolving the government and constitution.
Amid these occurrences, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the international community voiced their condemnation, yet these efforts have not deterred the ambition of African militaries to seize political power.
Factors contributing to these coups include foreign influence, a lack of discipline, and the perceived weaknesses of regional and continental bodies like ECOWAS and the African Union.
The recent coup in Gabon has sparked international reactions, with the Commonwealth and French and Russian governments expressing concerns.
The situation serves as a reminder of the fragility of democracy and the imperative for political leaders to fulfill their responsibilities to their citizens.
