Perhaps we should question the term “on the rise” since many coups have occurred after 1960 when most colonized countries in Africa gained independence* With a more energized and diverse international media, we are getting more details today—Niger, Mali, Chad, and Burkina Faso are four examples.

Since I was in Gabon when it had its first coup in 1964, I want to briefly discuss what happened in 1964, since in late August (2023) another coup in Gabon has taken place. Several issues emerge in most of these coups—reaction to abuse by the former European colonizers, unwillingness of leaders in democratic African countries to accept the loss of their election, the continued presence(including military troops)** of the former colonizer, how much oil, gold, managanese, and other materials the world needs is in a former colony, the growing influence of non-colonizing nations such as Russia, China, the USA and some others, the lack of experience in having legal checks and balances to political and economic power, many have only state-owned media, the recent surge in Islamic insurgencies, political dynasties, and many other factors.

The first coup in Gabon was in February 1964 when Leon Mba was the first president*** On the night of February 17, Mr. Mba was awakened from sleep non-violently and taken by car toward Lambarene. The few troops (mostly French), hearing no gunfire, stayed in their Libreville barracks. Frances’ president, Charles de Gaulle, ordered French forces from Dakar, Senegal and from the closer base in Brazzaville to reinstate Leon Mba. Now the first violence occurred when the French reinstalled Leon Mba as president. Only one French soldier was killed and about 20 Gabonese military also died. The head of the short-lived provisional government, Jean-Hilaire Aubame**** was imprisoned and later freed by President Omar Bongo in 1972.