Cameroon President Appoints New Military Leaders after Coup in Gabon

One of Africa’s longest-serving presidents has appointed new military leaders on the same day a junta seized power in neighbouring Gabon.

President Paul Biya of Cameroon carried out a wide-ranging reshuffle of his country’s Defence Ministry and armed forces on Wednesday.

No reason was given for the shake-up.

Colonel Cyrille Guemo, the Director of Communications at Cameroon’s ministry of defence, told a Turkish news agency that the new appointments had been on the president’s table for many days.

Although Mr. Biya’s presidency initially came under threat when soldiers tried to seize power soon after his first election, he has since succeeded in maintaining the military’s loyalty.

While Wednesday’s new military appointments are wide-ranging, observers say the roles involved lack the power and capacity to stage a coup.

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The 90-year-old Biya remains one of the longest-serving African leaders as he came to power in a coup d’etat in 1982. His rulership has been characterized by reports of oppression and human rights abuses.

Following the retirement changes in Rwanda’s military formation, Kagame also approved the promotion and
appointment of some officers to replace the previous office holders, according to the RDF.

Kagame has been in power since 2000, and in 2015, Rwanda’s constitution was changed to allow Kagame to remain president until 2034, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving presidents.

Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family has ruled Gabon for 56 years, was deposed in a coup by top military officers, and the coupists named Gen Brice Oligui Nguema as the transitional leader, a development celebrated by the Gabonese.

The coup is believed to have been inspired by the sham election, in which the Gabonese Election Centre (CGE) declared Bongo as the winner – a development that would have seen him remain in power for the next seven years.

Ali Bongo served as the minister of defense under his father, Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon with an iron fist from 1967 to 2009. After his death, Ali Bongo took his place as president and has ruled ever since.

The situation in Gabon follows the trend of military coups in Africa, which has seen seven countries including Mali, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Chad, Guinea, and Niger fall under military rulership.