West Africa has again witnessed a new coup and this time, in Gabon, a country that has been governed by one family for 56 years.
In a national broadcast, 12 soldiers announced the ouster of Mr Bongo.
The coup plotters introduced themselves as the “Committee of Transition and the Restoration of Institutions.”
“In the name of the Gabonese people… we have decided to defend the peace by putting an end to the current regime,” the coup plotters declared, dissolving the electoral body, national assembly and constitutional court.
Mr Bongo took over power in 2009 after his father, Omar Bongo, died.
Though he suffered a stroke in 2018, sparking calls for him to step down, Mr Bongo held on to power, conducting another election and was declared winner on Saturday.
At a time when the West African body ECOWAS is still battling to resolve the ongoing military rule in Niger republic, it has now become pertinent for ECOWAS to look inward and begin to search for solutions to ensure a proper democratic rule that represents the true choice of the people.
