Rwanda and Cameroon have carried out some major changes days after the Military Coup that sacked President Ali Bongo from power in Gabon.
The Coup which took place on Tuesday night not only shocked the world but forced many Nations, including the UN, AU to condemn the actions of the Military in Gabon.
The Secretary-General of the UN said, he “firmly condemns the ongoing Coup attempt as a means to resolve the post-electoral crisis.” While the AU Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat , said, “he strongly condemns the attempted coup d’état in the Country as a means out of the current post-electoral crisis.”
The Coup in Gabon was the latest in a series of Military Coups that have seen democratically elected leaders removed from the seat of power in Niger Republic, Mali, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Guinea-Bissau.
In Rwanda, President Paul Kagame has retired hundreds of Soldiers, coinciding with the advancement of young Soldiers within the Nation’s security framework. New Generals have also been appointed to lead Army divisions situated across the Country.
According to the News Times (Rwanda), President Paul Kagame has approved the retirement of several RDF Generals, including senior Presidential Advisor on Security matters, James Kabarebe.
The Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) released a statement disclosing Kagame’s approval of the retirement of twelve Generals, eighty-three senior officers, and six junior officers. Additionally, eighty-six senior non-commissioned officers will be retired. About 678 Soldiers retired as their contracts concluded, with 160 others medically discharged.
The senior Military Officers also include Fred Ibingira, Charles Kayonga, Frank Mushyo Kamanzi, Martin Nzaramba, Eric Murokore, Augustin Turagara, Charles Karamba, Albert Murasira, Chris Murari, Didace Ndahiro, and Emmanuel Ndahiro.
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 Defense Staff of the Rwandan Army.
President Kagame has also elevated several young officers to the rank of Colonel and designated new Generals to lead Military divisions.
Other retirees are, Lt. Gen. Frank Mushyo Kamanzi, currently Rwanda’s Ambassadors to Russia, and Maj. Gen. Albert Murasira, a former Defense Minister.
In June, Kagame had appointed Juvenal Marizamunda as the new Defense Minister, succeeding Albert Murasira, who had held the role since 2018.
In another development, President Paul Biya, one of Africa’s longest serving leaders, also made new appointments at the Defense Ministry’s central administrative unit, according to a decree made public on social media.
Biya who is 90 years old and has been in power since 1982, has made a number of changes to the Military Leadership.
The new Chief of Defense Staff is now Major General Cyrille Atangana, who replaces General Joseph Betty Assomo. Atangana is a close ally of Biya and is seen as a loyal and experienced Officer.
The reshuffle is seen as an attempt by Biya to consolidate his power and prevent a Coup in Cameroon on the heels of the recent Gabon Coup.
The Coup in Gabon has raised concerns about the stability of other Countries in the region including Cameroon.
