THE African Union suspended Gabon’s membership a day after the Gabonese military ousted President Ali Bongo.
This is the first regional response to the 8th coup that happened across West and Central Africa since 2020.
The military takeover in Gabon marks the nearly six-decade rule of the Bongo family dynasty.
Like other juntas that have seized government power in the region, Gabon’s military leaders want to remain in power despite condemnation from different countries.
General Brice Oligui Nguema, coup leader and former head of the presidential guard, is scheduled to be sworn in as the new president on Monday.
Nigerian Pres. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is also the chairman of ECOWAS, said that his fears were confirmed and that what is happening in Africa right now is a contagion of autocracy following a wave of coups that occurred in the region.
“My fear has been confirmed in Gabon that copycats will start doing the same thing until it is stopped,” according to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria.
The African Union Peace And Security Council first banned Gabon from participating in the bloc’s activities.
The Central Africa political bloc also condemned the coup to had an immediate meeting to find out how to respond to the situation in Gabon.
A total of eight former colonies of France in West and Central Africa have been under the power of military rulers for three years.
