Former Nigerian Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode has said he is not surprised by the military coup in Gabon, and that people should expect more coups in Francophone countries of West and Central Africa.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Fani-Kayode made the comments in a post on his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
He said the coup in Gabon was “prophetic” and that it was “frankly” to be expected.
Fani-Kayode cited his recent essay “Does Killing Nigerien Babies Bring Glory To Our Name?” in which he warned that “coups are becoming more and more common in Francophone Africa.” He said that the reasons for this are “corruption, poverty, and a lack of democracy.”
Fani-Kayode also questioned whether the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) or the African Union would threaten to invade Gabon, as they have done in the past with other countries that have experienced coups.
He wrote, “Sadly another coup has taken place in Africa. This time it is in the nation of Gabon where President Ali Bongo (pictured below) has been removed from power.
“It appears that the warning I gave in my last essay, titled ‘Does Killing Nigerien Babies Bring Glory To Our Name?’, was prophetic.
“I am not surprised that this has happened and frankly we should expect more coups in the Francophone countries of West and Central Africa for the reasons I stated in that essay.
“I wonder whether ECOWAS or the African Union will threaten to invade Gabon too?”
The coup in Gabon took place on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. Top army officers announced that they had seized power after the re-election of President Ali Bongo. The officers said they were annulling the outcome of the election, which the opposition had rejected and described as “fraudulent.”
The coup is the latest in a series of military takeovers in Francophone Africa.
