The Military Sweeping Africa’s Sahel & West Coast

Gabon ignored the warning signs a few years ago when some soldiers bared their teeth, in an attempted coup. Now, it has happened. It is a full-blown coup ousting President Ali Bongo. Reports say the President has fled to Belgium, and the Electoral Commission head is in Morocco.

The Gabon coup gives a lifeline to Niger which incited regional controversy with the removal of the President of the republic. Military interventions in Sudan, Chad, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Guinea, and Gabon are being explained by political neutrals as eye-opening and wake-up calls on African leaders to sit up and do the right things.

Oxfam did a study that revealed growing economic disparities in many African countries, especially in West Africa. Before that, the Arab Spring turbulence in Africa’s Maghreb region had highlighted popular discontent at political tyranny and economic malaise that worked to the detriment of the people.

It is now clear that politicians only ignore the warning signs at their own risk the possible pushback of the suffering people. Political scientists speak of political imbalances as dangerous for nations since the weaker side may interact towards a retreat but emerge from their hideout as the fiercer side. It does seem that even before the people could rise up, institutions with coercive authority are streets ahead on their behalf.