The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has suspended the Central African Country Gabon after the military took over the government on Wednesday.
After a meeting of its Peace and Security Council on the situation, the AU said it had decided to “suspend the participation of Gabon in all activities of its organs and institutions”.
The meeting was chaired by its Commissioner for Political Affairs Bankole Adeoye and the current holder of the council’s rotating chair, Burundi’s Nyamitwe.
This development comes as Gabon’s military junta plans to inaugurate its leader, Gen. Brice Nguema as the “transitional president of the troubled country on Monday.
Spokesman of the junta, Col. Ulrich Manfoumbi revealed that the swearing-in of Gen. Nguema will take place at the constitutional court.
What you need to know
While the military junta is preparing to inaugurate Nguema as transitional president, Gabon’s main opposition, the Alternance 2023 coalition, wants the coup leaders to declare it as the winner of Saturday’s disputed presidential election.
Recall that President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who was named winner of the poll, was overthrown by soldiers on Wednesday, hours after the country’s electoral body declared him re-elected for another term of seven years.
African countries revamp their military
Two African countries have revamped their military to ward off the Niger and Gabon experiences.
The countries are Rwanda which sent 12 generals and 678 soldiers packing and Cameroon which reorganized its Defence Ministry by making new appointments.
Rwanda’s Defence Force (RDF) revealed that President Paul Kagame approved retirements in the military that included officers serving as ambassadors. He also approved the appointment of a fresh set of generals to lead Army divisions
The RDF explained that prominent figures from Rwanda’s 1994 liberation war, including Gen. James Kabarebe, Gen. Fred Ibingira, and Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga, were among the retirees.
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source: BusinessElitesAfrica