The fear of army takeover has sent jitters down the spine of presidents Paul Kagame and Paul Biya of Rwanda and Cameroon respectively as the two leaders hurriedly retired 1, 029 senior military officers.
The action followed Wednesday’s coup d’état in Gabon where President Ali Bongo Ondimba’s government was sacked by soldiers led by the head of the Republican guards, Gen Brice Nguema.
In Rwanda, Kagame retired hundreds of soldiers within the nation’s security framework and appointed new generals to lead army divisions across the country.
The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) released a statement disclosing Kagame’s approval of the retirement of 12 generals, 83 senior officers, and six junior officers, six junior officers, 86 senior non-commissioned officers, 678 whose contracts ended and 160 medically discharges
Prominent figures from Rwanda’s 1994 liberation war, including Gen. James Kabarebe, Gen. Fred Ibingira, and Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga, are among the retirees.
Both Kabarebe and Kayonga previously held the position of chief of defence staff of the Rwandan army.
Kagame also elevated several young officers to the rank of colonel and designated new generals to lead military divisions.
Others retired included Lt. Gen. Frank Mushyo Kamanzi, currently Rwanda’s ambassador to Russia, and Maj. Gen. Albert Murasira, a former defence minister.
In June, Kagame appointed Juvenal Marizamunda as the new defence minister, succeeding Albert Murasira, who had held the role since 2018.
Similarly, Biya who has been in power in Cameroon since 1982, reeled out fresh appointments within the defence ministry’s central administrative unit, as outlined in a decree shared in French on the social media.
Décret portant nomination de responsables au Ministère de la Défense.#PaulBiya#Cameroun pic.twitter.com/9TBWfX3CMm
— President Paul BIYA (@PR_Paul_BIYA) August 30, 2023
The representatives to the presidency in charge of defence, the staff of the air force, the navy, and the police were among the positions that were changed.
The new chief of staff is Major General Cyrille Atangana, who replaces General Joseph Betti Assomo.
According to reports, Atangana is a loyal ally of the president and an experienced officer.
Appointments were also made to the positions of technical advisers, bureau commissariat, and air force technical inspector.
AU suspends Gabon until…
Meanwhile, the African Union (AU) has announced the immediate suspension of Gabon from all activities of the continental body.
The announcement was made yesterday on X after a meeting of AU’s Peace and Security Council.
The continental body said it “decides to immediately suspend the participation of Gabon in all activities of the AU, its organs and institutions…until the restoration of constitutional order in the country.”
The meeting was chaired by the AU commissioner for political affairs, Mr Bankole Adeoye of Nigeria, and the current holder of the council’s rotating chair, Mr Willy Nyamitwe of Burundi.
Council strongly condemns the military takeover of power in the Republic of #Gabon which ousted President Ali Bongo @PresidentABO on 30 August 2023; Decides to immediately suspend the participation of #Gabon in all activities of the #AU, its organs and institutions.. pic.twitter.com/xQVmTyFrWR
— African Union Political Affairs Peace and Security (@AUC_PAPS) August 31, 2023
Nguema takes over as transitional president
The new government said Nguema would be sworn in on Monday, September 4 as the transitional president.
The military in a statement on Thursday sought to reassure international donors they would “respect all commitments” at home and abroad and “phase in” transitional institutions.
Spokesman for the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), Col Ulrichmbi Manfoumbi, announced this in a television broadcast.
“The president of the transition will take the oath before the Constitutional Court on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, at the residence of the Republic
“All measures will be taken to guarantee compliance with our country’s commitments both externally and internally,” he said.
