In an unprecedented turn of events, the recently concluded presidential election in Gabon has taken a shocking twist. The nation’s President, Ali Bongo, who had just secured his victory, has been forcibly removed from power by the military, sparking concerns about the country’s democratic stability.
Soldiers, taking to Gabonese national television, declared that they have seized control of the government, nullifying the results of the election held just days prior and dissolving the existing democratic administration. This abrupt upheaval has raised questions about the future of governance in Gabon.
Bayo Onanuga, the Director of Media and Publicity for the dissolved All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, has expressed his views on this disturbing development.
Through his X (formerly known as Twitter) account, he denounced the actions of the military, labeling them as avaricious despots. Onanuga, a former media aide to Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, lamented the recurrence of military coups in Africa and their detrimental impact on the progress of democracy across the continent.
As this tumultuous event unfolds, it is pertinent to note that it transpires against the backdrop of ongoing efforts to address the removal of Niger Republic’s democratically elected leader, Mohamed Bazoum.
Notably, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU), entities that have recently denounced the situation in Niger, have yet to issue statements concerning the unfolding events in Gabon. The world watches with bated breath to see how these regional bodies will respond to this new crisis, which threatens to undermine democratic ideals in the region.
