Gabon Coup: France to Send Military to Intervene? Top Geopolitical Analyst Speaks
- A group of senior Gabonese military officers appeared on television in the early hours of Wednesday to announce the suspension of elections and the closing of borders
- This is shortly after the election commission said President Ali Bongo Ondimba had won a third term
- A geopolitical analyst, Tara O’Connor, has reacted to the situation in Gabon and spoke on why a military intervention by France may not happen
Libreville, Gabon - Tara O’Connor, the executive director of Africa Risk Consulting on Wednesday, August 30, said France is unlikely to send its military to intervene in coup-hit Gabon, its former colony.
O’Connor told Al Jazeera that the military takeover in Gabon was "opportunistic", following the military coups that have happened in Mali, Burkina Faso, and recently, Niger.
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Gabon: ‘In the past France would've intervened’
She stated that dynastic politics are extremely unpopular across West Africa.
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Her words:
“In the past, France would have intervened with its military. But France has modernised its foreign policy towards Africa and now would only intervene at the invitation of says ECOWAS or any of the regional bodies or the African Union."
Celebrations erupt in Gabon
In a piece of related news, Legit.ng reported that several supporters of a military coup in Gabon trooped to the streets.
Photos seen by Legit.ng showed residents applauding members of the security forces in the Plein Ciel district in Libreville, the Gabonese capital city. The Army had announced the removal of President Ali Bongo.
Gabon: FFK predicts what will happen next
Legit.ng also reported that a former minister of aviation of Nigeria, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Wednesday, August 30, said he was not surprised about the coup in Gabon.
Fani-Kayode, fondly called 'FFK', said Africans should “expect more coups in the Francophone countries of West and Central Africa”.
Gabon: Facts about 'deposed' Ali Bongo
In another related article, Legit.ng reported that many woke up on Wednesday, August 30, to the news of the ouster of the democratically-elected president of Gabon, Ali Bongo.
Bongo was originally born Alain Bernard. He became Ali and his father Omar (formerly Albert-Bernard Bongo) in 1973, after converting to Islam.
Source: Legit.ng
