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After 91 years in office, 3 African Presidents panic over coup
After collective 91 years in office, three African presidents panic over coup in their respective countries. They developed phobia for military coup following the trend of military overthrow of civil rule in West and Central Africa, essentially, the coup in Gabon on Wednesday that ousted President Ali Bongo.
Paul Biya of Cameroon
Paul Kagame of Rwanda
Yoweri Museveni of Uganda
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The most recent, President Paul Biya of Cameroon, 41 years in office, carried out panic reshuffling of the military command on Wednesday after the coup in Gabon that ousted potential life President Ali Bongo.
Ousted Ali Bongo of Gabon
Also, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, 13 years in office, panicky ordered the reshuffling of 924 military officers, some General retired, on Wednesday after the Gabon coup.
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, currently spending 37 years in office on his sixth tenure, had earlier reassigned 35 officers of the military high command.
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Apparently, in the cumulative 91 years, Paul Biya, of Cameroon, over 90 years of age, has spent 41 years in office, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda spent 37 years in office, and Paul Kagame of Rwanda spent 13 years in office.
The scenario is not different from the Gabon polity where ousted President Ali Bongo has spent 14 years in office and still manipulate elections to stay in power for more years.
The Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) in a statement on Wednesday indicated that President Paul Kagame has retired 83 military personnel, including 12 generals.
According ot the statement, the retired Generals include: General James Kabarebe, General Fred Ibingira, Lt. Gen Charles Kayonga, Lt Gen Frank Mushyo Kamanzi, Maj Gen Martin Nzaramba, Major General Eric Murokore, Major General Augustin Turagara, Major General Charles Karamba, Major General Albert Murasira, Brigadier General Chris Murari, Brigadier General Didace Ndahiro, Brigadier General Emmanuel Ndahiro.
The Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) further indicated that President Kagame also approved the promotion and appointment of some officers to replace them.
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President Paul Kagame of Rwandan has been in power since 2000, and is one of the longest-serving presidents in Africa.
The government amended the country’s constitution in 2015, such that the president can stay in power till 2034 if he so desires.
The phobia over the coup in Gabon also led Rwanda’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt Gen M Muganga, to hold meetings with Hazza AlQahtani, Ambassador of UAE to Rwanda, and Colonel JE ACHU, Defence Attaché of Cameroon.
According to the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF),
Rwanda Defence Force
@RwandaMoD
“Today, the CDS RDF Lt Gen M Muganga held meetings with HE Hazza AlQahtani, Ambassador of UAE to Rwanda and Colonel JE ACHU, Defence Attaché of Cameroon.
“They discussed ways to enhance defence cooperation between their respective countries.”
Gabon on Wednesday became the seventh country in Africa the military have overthrown democratic governments in recent years.