African Union Convenes Emergency Session on Gabon’s Military Coup

African Union Convenes Emergency Session on Gabon’s Military Coup

In response to the political unrest in Gabon, the African Union’s Peace and Security Council has convened an emergency meeting today to deliberate on the recent military coup. The incident sees Gabon joining the list of countries in West and Central Africa that have recently experienced political upheavals. The regional organization’s intervention signifies its resolve to manage and potentially counter such incidents.

Leaders Discuss Next Steps

As reported by international news sources, the key focus of this meeting is to determine the best course of action in response to the military officers who ousted President Ali Bango, marking the end of the Bongo family’s nearly 60-year reign in Gabon. In a twist to events, these officers appointed their own head of state, intensifying the challenge for regional powers that have been grappling with a series of coups.

The official announcement of this meeting was made public through the AU’s digital communication channel, previously known as Twitter. Leading the discussion are Bankole Adeoye of Nigeria, the AU commissioner for political affairs, and Burundi’s Willy Nyamitwe, the current holder of the council’s rotating chairmanship.

(Read Also: General Nguema to be Sworn in as Gabon’s Transitional President)

Regional Concerns Intensify

The current state of political affairs in Gabon underscores a broader regional challenge. Since 2020, there have been no less than eight coups in the West and Central Africa region, suggesting a pattern that regional leaders are keen to address. Nigeria’s newly elected president eloquently described the phenomenon as a “contagion of autocracy,” highlighting the pressing need for stability and democratic governance in the region.

(Read Also: Rwandan and Cameroonian Presidents Reshuffle Military Amid Gabon Crisis)