Kwesi Pratt Jr, the Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, has claimed that there is not a single person who did not expect a Coup d’état in Gabon.
In fact, he stated that when the actions taken by the Ali Bongo-government, the events leading up to the elections, and the events that followed the polls were all considered together, they all contributed to a severe panic.
He said that he had predicted a coup in Gabon and that he continues to believe that four more African nations will adopt coup regimes, perhaps before the year is through.
“Everybody was expecting a Coup d’état in Gabon for many reasons. I mean one family has been in power for 53 long years. And that family has been in power for 53 long years because it was loved by the people of Gabon? That family has been in power for 53 years because it imposed itself on the people, rigged elections, harassed opposition leaders, banned political parties, and arrested trade union leaders and so on. That’s how it managed to sustain itself in power over the 53 years.
“And there’s a point to which people say that they will not allow you to go any further and Gabon has reached that point. So, I’m not surprised at all. I don’t think this Coup attempt is going to fail, I don’t think its going to fail at all. If you go on the net this morning, the signs are that it is a very popular coup d’état.”
Kwesi Pratt Jr
Additionally, Kwesi Pratt said that when studying the Coup d’état in Gabon, the analysis has to be based on a number of factors. He argued that in addition to identifying what characteristics are common to all coups, it is also important to examine the peculiarities of coups in Africa because these factors are shared by all of them.
He said, “Governments that are not accountable, governments that want to remain in power at all costs, and governments that subvert the national constitution should all be examined.” He also said that those who organize coups should be examined.
“You can find that in Burkina Faso, you can find that in Mali, you can find that in Guinea, Niger and also in Gabon. But there are also specifics which are unique to the unique countries. Now if you take Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Guinea, there’s something which is specific to those four countries and that is the Islamic insurgency. And you don’t have that situation in Gabon. So that is an added factor to the misbehavior of Governments across the Sub Region.
“Now the Coup in Gabon and other coups likely to follow will make West African leaders threat to invade Niger which will look even more reckless and unrealistic. Look, this phenomenon is going to spread. Even if you decide to go and fight in Niger, when will the fighting stop? Are we going to plunge the whole sub region into war? And if we’re going to plunge the whole sub-region into war, then when is it going to end?”
Kwesi Pratt Jr
The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper claimed that there is another dimension that people have not averted their minds to; which is the Islamic Insurgency. He claimed that the Islamic Insurgency could pose a threat to Niger.
He used an analogy and questioned what would happen if West African politicians were able to send soldiers to Niger, who then succeeded in toppling the military regime and installing a civilian one.
“Are West African leaders going to station their troops in Niger permanently? Or they’ll reinstate Bazoom and leave? Now if they reinstate Bazoom and leave, what happens to the Islamic Insurgency? In a matter of weeks, the insurgence will arrive in the capital, Niamey and catch the President and eat him up like sausage. So that is not a solution.”
Kwesi Pratt Jr
African Coups Need To Be Well Analyzed For Solution
Additionally, he argued that once these coup d’états in Africa gain popularity, they need to be critically examined in order to end the cycle in which civilian governments are overthrown by a military regime, the military regime then rules for a short period of time before reinstating a civilian government, and the cycle repeats.
“But we’ve seen popular coup d’états in the past. This is what happens; the popular coup regime comes, they stay in power for a couple of years and then they go back to constitutional drafting, they draft new constitutions, they hold elections and bring civilian government’s which come and repeat the same mistakes of previous civilian governments, then creating conditions for new coup d’états.
“So, there is an endless cycle which does not improve our political, economic and social conditions. We’ve got to break that cycle.”
Kwesi Pratt Jr
READ ALSO: Coup Underway In Gabon
