"Gabon Coup: Popular Uprising Reflects Deep Crisis and Discontent in West and Central Africa"

Following the announcement by mutinous soldiers in Gabon that they had overthrown the country's president, many residents took to the streets in celebration, declaring themselves liberated from the 55-year rule of the presidential family. This scene has become all too familiar in West and Central Africa, where eight coups have been recorded since 2020.

According to Hermann Ngoulou, a resident of Libreville, the capital of Gabon, this expression of popular dissatisfaction is a result of the deep crisis the country has been experiencing across all levels, including bad governance, rising food costs, and a high cost of living.

Since the 1950s, there have been approximately 100 documented coups across Africa. Analysts suggest that this recent surge in military takeovers is often driven by the diminishing democratic dividends experienced by these nations.

In the case of Gabon, the coup took place shortly after the president was declared the winner of an election that had barred international observers for the first time.