Had someone foretold Ali Bongo, the former President of Gabon, that he would one day share the fate of ousted African leaders, he likely would have dismissed it with a laugh. Regrettably, on Wednesday, August 30th, President Ali Bongo awoke to find himself placed under house arrest by military forces, accused of "irresponsible governance, embezzlement, and corruption." Seated in a luxuriously carpeted room, Bongo spoke with a touch of desperation, claiming ignorance of the situation and appealing to his international allies for support.
Bongo's misplaced confidence, in the face of prevalent military coups, may have stemmed from his family's longstanding rule over Gabon, spanning more than 50 years. However, this familial shield proved inadequate, as the populace, weary of Bongo's ongoing exploitation akin to other African dictatorships, had reached a breaking point, enabling the military intervention. This wasn't the first time the military sought to topple Bongo; in early 2019, during his recovery from a stroke, a failed coup attempt was thwarted, leading to swift arrests.