Gabon: Expect more coups in Africa – Femi Fani Kayode

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, in his reaction to the coup in Gabon, has predicted that there would be more military takeovers in French-speaking West and Central African countries in the near future.

The PUNCH reports that some army officers Wednesday toppled the democratic government of President Ali Bongo, who has been in power since 2009.

Bongo was announced the winner of the presidential election in the West African country on Saturday, having fulfilled a two-thirds victory at the polls.

Fani-Kayode in a post on his X page said he was not surprised about the coup.

He wrote, “BREAKING NEWS: Sadly another coup has taken place in Africa. “This time it is in the nation of Gabon where President Ali Bongo (pictured below), who together with his late father Alhaji Bongo, had been in power for the last 53 years has been toppled and removed from office.

“It appears that the warning I gave in my last essay, titled, ‘Does Killing Nigerien Babies Bring Glory To Our Name?’, was prophetic.

“I am not surprised that this has happened and frankly we should expect more coups in the  Francophone countries of West and Central Africa for the reasons I stated in that essay.

“I wonder whether ECOWAS or the African Union will threaten to invade Gabon as well?” Punch