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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.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria will on Thursday, deliver judgments in two cases involving the leadership crises rocking the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to information on the official website of the court, the matters, listed under “Political Appeals”, have been added to the cause list for Thursday, April 30, 2026.
While judgment in the ADC matter, marked SC/CV/180/2026, has been fixed for 2 pm, there is no time yet for that if the PDP.
President Bola Tinubu has written the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of fifteen nominees to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The letter was read by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The letter seeks the reconstitution of the commission’s board in line with statutory provisions with the list comprising nominees from diverse professional backgrounds, including the media and legal sectors.
Among the nominees are the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors and Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Eze Anaba; and Dr. Salamatu Hussaina Suleiman, who has been proposed as chairman of the board.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Anthony Ojukwu (SAN) is to retain his position as the Chief Executive Officer.
Other nominees include Mrs Roseline Tasha, Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku, ACG Felix Lawrence, Mr. Edmund Chinonye, Mr. Chinonye Obiaku (SAN), Oluwakemi Asiwaju Okere-Odo, Professor Adedeji Ogunji, Kingsley Chidozie, Mohammed Adelodu, Maupe Ogun Yusuf, and Otunba Francis Meshioye as members.
Also nominated are Patience Patrick and Hawwa Ibrahim, listed as members.
The President said the nominations were made pursuant to Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010, which empowers him to constitute the board subject to Senate confirmation.
He explained that the reconstitution of the board was necessary to enhance the commission’s institutional capacity and enable it to more effectively discharge its mandate to promote and protect human rights across the country.
If confirmed, the new board is expected to play a critical role in reinforcing the NHRC’s oversight functions, particularly at a time of heightened concerns over rights protection and accountability in Nigeria.
Following the presentation of the request, the Senate referred the nominations to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for screening and report within two weeks.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has revealed that it investigated the founder of Streams of Joy International, Pastor Jerry Eze, for six months over suspected money laundering before clearing him.
Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Commission, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking at the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja.
According to him, the probe was triggered by intelligence reports and petitions after the commission observed large inflows of foreign currencies into the cleric’s domiciliary account.
“We work by intelligence, we work by petitions. At some point, I saw there was an account, a domiciliary account. Dollars, pounds were dropping in like raindrops, from Colombia, from America, from Sri Lanka, even from Togo.
“I said who is this man? Yes, I’ve been hearing about his name, I’ve seen his face a couple of times. I never bothered about what he was doing. I knew he was a pastor.
“So they said this one pastor of streams of joy, go and investigate him. So we went to the investigation. We combed the books,” Olukoyede stated.
The EFCC boss said he subsequently invited Eze for questioning after preliminary findings were compiled by investigators.
He added that upon meeting the cleric and reviewing the findings of the investigation, the commission found no wrongdoing.
“So he came to my office. He told me what happens and all of that, and how the money came, what he does, how he has been helping people, and all of that.
“I said, you know what, I didn’t call you here to explain to me. We have already done our work. I called you here to commend you,” he stated.
The remark drew applause from the audience, as Eze, who was present at the event, acknowledged the commendation.
He noted that the commission has a responsibility not only to investigate financial crimes but also to recognise individuals found to have acted with integrity.
The EFCC chairman, however, stated that the agency would continue to monitor financial activities where necessary, stressing that its preventive mandate remains critical in tackling corruption.
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