Africa and the grand return of the military, By Jibrin Ibrahim

The coup in Gabon this week is most unlikely to be a regime change. Gen Brice Nguema, the head of the junta is a relation of the Bongo family and started his career as body guard to Omar Bongo, the father of the deposed President who had ruled for 42 years. The coup occurred minutes after President Ali Bongo had been declared winner of a rigged election.

When the military seized power in Burkina Faso last year, ousting the country’s democratically elected President, Roch Marc Kaboré, it was already public knowledge that it was coming. There were widespread conversations that the military had decided to seize power in the country and the only question was when not if they would. The main issue was the government’s failure to stem jihadist attacks that have destabilised broad swathes of Burkina Faso, displaced 1.

As was the case in the 1970s and 1980s, military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Niger and Gabon, civilians have demonstrated in favour of military rule and have been ready to collaborate with them. Clearly, there is a new generation in Africa that has no memories of the terrible impact of military rule and in their naivety think military rule can be a political solution to the crisis generated by poor democratic practices.

This situation has created two narratives in an emerging blame game. The military have been complaining in loud whispers that the corrupt democratic administrations have not been supplying them adequate weaponry to deal with insurgents, jihadists and armed bandits. The response is that deep corruption has also penetrated the military itself and they often misappropriate the funds given to them to execute the war.

Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

JUST-IN: Col. Brice Nguema Is New Gabonese Leader, Replaces Ali BongoThe head of the Republican Guards, Colonel Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, has been selected by his peers to lead the transition in Gabon after the military
Source: LeadershipNGA - 🏆 4. / 77 Read more »

VIDEO: 'Make noise, I've been arrested'- Gabon's Ali Bongo begs 'friends' for helpIn the 51-second, Bongo confirmed that he had been arrested and isolated from his son and wife, who he said were held at another place.
Source: MobilePunch - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

Ousted Gabon President Bongo begs friends to speak up over coup [Video]A video of ousted Gabon President Ali Bongo calling for his “friends” to speak up following a successful military coup in the oil-rich central African
Source: DailyPostNGR - 🏆 11. / 59 Read more »

Coup: Knocks trail Gabon President Ali Bongo after plea for intervention on viral videoFollowing the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo's plea for intervention after the military ousted him in a coup in a trending video...
Source: MobilePunch - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

Gabon military arrests Bongo's son for treasonThe military junta in Gabon also detained the son of the deposed President Ali Bongo in a coup on Wednesday, according to Alarabiya News. DAILY POST
Source: DailyPostNGR - 🏆 11. / 59 Read more »

Gabon Coup: Ousted President Bongo speaks as junta names transition leaderSenior soldiers in Gabon on Wednesday morning announced they had taken over the government.
Source: PremiumTimesng - 🏆 3. / 78 Read more »