President Ali Bongo Ondimba

Africa's Coups: Power Should Be Public, Not Military

Africa’s Coups: Power Should Be Public, Not Military

In a moment of seismic political and social upheaval, Gabon has become the epicentre of a swirling controversy that pits democratic ideals against authoritarian tendencies. A military coup has unfolded under the banner of restoring democracy, even as it seeks to dismantle the pillars of governance in one form or another. At the heart of this paradox lies a recently concluded election, the results of which have been hotly disputed. The consequences of this coup resonate far beyond Gabon’s borders, Casting a sombre veil over the very concept of democracy in a continent beleaguered by historical and systemic governance failures.