As the military in some African countries continue to overthrow their respective governments, the leadership of other African states are taking measures to forestall any military insurrection within their respective domains.

Cases in point are Paul Biya of Cameroun and Paul Kagame of Rwanda who yesterday reshuffled the military leaderships in their respective countries.

Following yesterday’s coup by the military in neighbouring Gabon that overthrew President Ali Bongo Ondimba, Cameroun’s President, Paul Biya ordered an immediate reshuffle of the military echelon in the country.

In a decree personally signed by him and dated Wednesday, August 30, 2023, 90 year old Biya and Africa’s longest serving president, who has been in power since 1982, made a series of appointments into the internal and external services of the Ministry of Defence.

The decree also includes the transformation of the consulate of the Republic of Cameroon at Ouessa and that of Congo into a general consulate.

Similarly, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has yesterday, hours after the coup in Gabon approved the retirement of over 12 generals, 83 senior officers and six junior officers in the Rwandan military.

This was contained in a press release dated August 30, 2023 with names and ranks of the affected generals.

On his part, Chairperson of the Economic Community OF West African States, ECOWAS and Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, reacting to the coup in Gabon, said via his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, that he was watching the events in Gabon with concern.

“President Bola Tinubu is watching closely with deep concern for the country’s social political stability and at the seeming autocratic contention apparently spreading across different regions of our beloved continent.”

“The President as a man who has made significant, personal sacrifices in his own life in the course of advancing and defending democracy is of the unwavering belief that power belongs in the hands of Africa’s great people and not in the barrel of a loaded gun.”

“The President affirms that the rule of law and a faithful recourse to the constitutional resolutions and instruments of electoral dispute resolution must not at any time be allowed to perish from our great continent.”

“To this end, the President is working very closely and continues to communicate with other Heads of States in the African Union towards a comprehensive consensus on the next steps forward with respect to how the power in Gabon will play out and how the continent will respond to contagious autocracy we have seen spread across our continent.”