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Fear of coup spreads among African leaders as Cameroon, Rwanda presidents sack Generals, reshuffle military
There is wide spread panic across African countries especially those whose leaders have overstayed their welcome in the eyes of the citizens.
The panic comes following incidences of military overthrow of civilian governments with the latest being in Gabon, where President Ali Bongo was kicked out of office by military officers who also held him, his wife and son in solitary confinement.
Despite condemnation from some quarters, especially France and its western allies, the coup leaders have announced their plan to inaugurate a new administration to be led by General Brice Oligui Nguema who would be sworn in as “transitional president” on Monday.
Before the coup in Gabon, many African leaders have in recent times being topped through a forceful putsch. They include leaders of Chad, Sudan, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic.
In what has been interpreted as panic reaction, the Presidents of Cameroon and Rwanda, Paul Biya and Paul Kagame have tinkered with the military structure of their countries.
Paul Kagame of Rwanda on Wednesday retired 12 generals and dozens of other ranks from the army.
According to a Rwandan national newspaper, News Times, the news of the retirements came through a statement issued by Rwanda Defence Force.
Those retired included two four-star generals, James Kabarebe and Fred Ibingira, two three-star generals, Charles Kayonga and Frank Mushyo Kamanzi.
Kabarebe and Kayonga had previously served as Chief of Defence Staff of RDF, while the other two were service chiefs.
The statement read: “The President has also approved the retirement of 83 senior officers, six junior officers and 86 senior non-commissioned officers, 678 whose contracts ended and 160 medical discharges.”
Also in Cameroon, President Paul Biya reshuffled the military, with new appointments as contained in a statement signed by the President himself.
The statement, written in French was posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The statement announced new appointments to the Controle Generale des Armees. The new controllers are Captain Ajeagah Njei Félix and Colonel Nguema Ondo Bertin Bourger.
Appointments were also made to the positions of Technical Advisers, Bureau Commissariat and Air Force Technical Inspector.
Although Nigeria, who President Bola TInubu is the head of regional block, ECOWAS has not taken similar measure, due maybe, to the fact that the country’s Service Chiefs were recently appointed, its military has however warned officers and men to be completely loyal to the civilian government.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Mohammed Usman, asked disloyal soldiers to leave.
Usman, who called for loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and constituted authority, also asked soldiers to be professional and exhibit total loyalty, beginning with the President, down to the top echelon of the armed forces.
Addressing soldiers at the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Ogun State, the Nigerian Army GOC noted that there were some challenges but added that they were not peculiar to the Brigade Command.
He said: “While we are looking at the challenges and how to solve them, you have to be disciplined soldiers; you have to be loyal soldiers.
“When I mean loyalty, your loyalty must start with the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, who is the President. That’s first, and then down the ladder, loyalty to the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, down to your Brigade Commander.
“You have to be loyal. There is no room for soldiers that are not loyal to the constituted authority, no. If you are not going to be loyal, then, leave, go and do other work. But the armed forces cannot stand it if you are not loyal; discipline, loyalty and top professionalism.
“We are bearing arms so that other people can sleep well and go about their normal activities. You also have to be hardworking, if you go on any course, make sure you do your best and be among the best. Once you have all these, you will grow in this job,” Usman stated.
A petition to recall the Senator representing Kogi Central District, Natasha Ajpoti-Uduagban, has been rejected by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The Commission in a statement on Thursday said that the petition did not meet the requirements for recalling a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Commission recently formally received a petition from constituents of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling for the commencement of her recall process.
The Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, received the petition which was submitted at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
Natasha, who represents Kogi central in the Senate, is currently on suspension for allegedly flouting the Senate rules.
According to the petitioners, over 250,000 constituents’ signed the petition, out of about 480,000 registered voters in the senatorial district.
The petition was titled _Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence’.
In a brief statement on Thursday, the Commission said, “The petition for the recall of the Senato representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”
Details later….
According to health experts, these are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of having stroke
1. Avoid smoking
Experts say the most important thing to do to improve brain health is to quit smoking cigarettes and vapes.
Apart from accelerating brain aging and increasing the risk for dementia, smoking causes damage to blood vessel walls in the brain and reduces overall oxygen levels due to the carbon monoxide in tobacco – making the body more prone to having a stroke.
2. Reduce blood sugar levels
High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is a significant risk factor for stroke as it can damage blood vessels, which can lead to blood clots that travel to the brain.
Over time, excessive blood glucose can result in increased fatty deposits or clots in blood vessels. These clots can narrow or block blood vessels in the brain.
3. Maintain a healthy weight and diet
Being overweight and eating unbalanced meals can significantly amplify risks for having a stroke. Carrying too much weight increases your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes – all of which can damage blood cells, impact oxygen levels and contribute to higher stroke risk.
4. Regular Exercise
You need regular exercise to stay healthy and avoid stroke. Exercise should be spread evenly over four to five days a week, or every day. Do strengthening activities, usually more than two days per week.
5. Get Enough Sleep
While not a direct cause, poor sleep and sleep disorders, especially sleep apnea, are linked to an increased risk of stroke, potentially due to inflammation, reduced oxygen levels and blood flow to the brain.
The risk of stroke symptoms is four times greater among individuals who slept fewer than six hours a night compared to individuals who reported seven to eight hours of sleep a night.
However, experts also warn that ‘Too much sleep is also associated with increased stroke risk, so try to stay as active as possible so you can sleep as well as possible.’
6. Regular Checkup
You are expected to go for overall medical checkup regularly to ensure really detection and treatment of I’ll health.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, arrived in Budapest early morning on Thursday, marking his first visit to Europe since 2023, despite an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban invited Netanyahu last November, promising Hungary would not enforce the ICC arrest warrant, which he called politically motivated.
The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including using starvation as a weapon towards Palestinians in Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the US, the EU, and Israel, among others.
Hungary’s Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky received Netanyahu at the airport with military honours.
Orban is expected to back Netanyahu on US President Donald Trump’s plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza. That plan has been criticized by UN experts as ethnic cleansing.
Experts say Netanyahu is strategically visiting countries where he faces no risk of arrest, aiming to gradually normalize his international travel.
In February, Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz said he will find “ways and means” for Netanyahu to visit Germany.
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