The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and African Union appear dumbfounded and taken aback as the ongoing Garbon Coup d’état was reported on Wednesday, ENigeria Newspaper.
The Economic Community of West African States is a regional political and economic union of fifteen countries located in West Africa. Collectively, these countries comprise an area of 5,114,162 km², and in 2019 had an estimated population of over 387 million.
According to a BBC report, monitored by ENigeria Newspaper the Garbon Military announced on TV that it had seized power in the West African country and taken into custody, President Ali Bongo and son.
This is after a just concluded election in the country which handed him (Ali Bongo) a third term in power – a development largely disputed by the people.
Ali Bongo had been in the saddle since 2009 after inheriting the seat from his father Omar Bongo who ruled from 1967 to 2009 when he died.
The people of Garbon in reaction, frown at the fact that a family has held them hostage for decades running government like their personal property at the expense of the people’s future.
Reacting to the ongoing Garbon Coup d’état, Nigerian lawyer Inibehe Effiong wrote:
“This wave of military coups in Africa will not end unless the mindless thugs ruling the continent respect the rule of law and true constitutional principles and values.
“It is duplicitous to accuse military forces of truncating democracy when what we have as government in many African countries are corrupt civilian despots who rig elections violently and kill to remain in power.
“The African Union is largely a failed experiment and should be ashamed of itself for condoning sit-tight despots across the continent. How can one family hold the reins of power in a poverty-stricken country or anything for that matter for 56 years? Is that democracy?
“As much as I don’t endorse military coups, I cannot also cry for deposed civilian despots whom themselves have staged coups against democracy”.
As at the time of filing this report, the ECOWAS and AU which appear to have so much in its hands per the ongoing Coup in Niger where it was vociferous initially, appear to have lost their voice this time. Since the ongoing Garbon Coup d’état was reported on Wednesday, no comment so far has been released by ECOWAS.
Celebration in Garbon Over Military Take Over
People in Gabon woke up this morning, heard about the bloodless coup that successfully upstaged Ali Bongo, and poured into the streets to celebrate. pic.twitter.com/EtJWCJ19B0
— Spotlight Abby (@Spotlight_Abby) August 30, 2023
Disgraced President Ali Bongo Cries for Help
Omo I go write names of Noise makers oh.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
President dethroned of Gabon calling for international communities to make noise.Baba rest. 54 years of rule. Watin happen, nah birth right? pic.twitter.com/KMbmQDrohJ
— Bishop 𝕏 (@BishopPOEvang) August 30, 2023
The Raging Coup D’etat by Olawale Olaleye, a Nigeria journalist and Editor at Thisday Newspaper
If the ECOWAS, the AU, and other global bodies always embodied the moral responsibility to restore constitutional order in countries where the military had upstaged democratic rule, why is that responsibility restrictive?
Shouldn’t it also include whipping member-states into line each time they sat tight in office, stepped out of order, perpetuate corruption, deprive their people of good life, and oppress them by displaying ostentatious wealth at their collective expense?
They keep talking about the sanctity of democracy, just because it easily appeals to emotions, but they do less to make it attractive and abiding. Isn’t that hypocrisy?
Sadly, the military hardly does well and even worse. At the end of the day, they always leave behind tales of woes, corruption and rights abuse, and of tears and blood.
This, naturally, should leave the political class with the sole responsibility of ensuring the survival of their revered democracy if they truly mean well.
At this point, it makes sense to start addressing the root cause of coups and not the effect by aiming to reverse them after they’ve been carried out.
But if the trend is to be studied, sincerely, there’s cause to show that the raging scourge is not ceasing anytime soon.
So, Africa, fasten your seat belt, it’s about to race mad!
Source: ENigeria Newspaper
