Once again the generals have stepped in. In three years there have been nine military takeovers in west and central Africa, the latest, in oil-rich Gabon, came only weeks after Niger. And once again on the heels of a disputed election in which an incumbent assured himself victory through intimidation and other irregularities.
Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa, re-elected only recently in similarly dubious circumstances, may well be looking on nervously; this, after all, resembles the way he too came to power.
While the previous coups, however, have been largely in countries afflicted by jihadi violence or internal military divisions, in Gabon it was aimed squarely at one of Africa’s most enduring political dynasties. Outgoing president Ali Bongo Ondimba (64) was declared the winner of a recent election, his third term seemingly assured, only to be ousted a few days later by the military led by his presidential guard. He has appealed for international help, almost certainly to no avail.
Bongo succeeded his father, Omar Bongo, who ran the country of 2.4 million people from 1967 until his death in 2009. Both were accused of amassing personal wealth from the country’s oil riches.
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Complicating the issue for outside observers, his successor, Gen Brice Nguema, was one of Omar Bongo’s inner circle, though reportedly did not get on with his son. The Opposition claims it is a ruse to retain power. The general, who was sworn in on Monday as interim president, promises free elections, but does not say when.
The regional tide of coups has been condemned by the African Union and seen the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) threaten military intervention in defence of “democracy”, such as it is. But Ecowas’s intervention threat to the new Niger regime has caused divisions within the group and has yet to materialise. Meanwhile, the US and France – Gabon was a French colony until 1960 – appear confused about whether to uphold democracy or keep in with militaries who they see as key allies in the struggle against jihadism.