Many African countries have been posing serious entrenched governance challenges but military coups are not the solution, UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres warned Thursday following a coup d’état in Gabon.

United Nations.- The UNSG urged nations to act quickly to establish credible democratic governments amid “succession of military coups we´ve seen lately in the African continent.”

Such coups confirm the need to strengthen capacities and support African governments and regional organizations in their efforts to unite their peoples, Guterres added.

As solutions, the UN High Representative proposed more participation for Africa, debt relief for the region, a reform of the financial architecture, and a change in global economic relations.

Military forces announced on Wednesday the annulment of Gabon’s presidential elections, the arrest of re-elected President Ali Bongo Ondimba, and the dissolution of the Government, the Senate, the National Assembly, and the Constitutional Court in the country.

A similar situation was experienced in Niger in July 2023, but the list of Africa’s military coups since 2020 up to date further includes Sudan, Chad, Burkina Faso, and Mali, among others. (PL)