African Coup: Is Republic of the Congo Next?
Earlier reports speculated that the African nation of the Republic of the Congo is undergoing a military coup d’etat that aims to oust the 79-year-old President Denis Nguesso from power while he was attending the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Republic of the Congo is bordered by Gabon, which saw a recent military coup that ousted President Ali Bongo from leadership; Cameroon, which saw its president, Paul Biya, reshuffle its national army amid coup threats; and Central African Republic, where there is supposedly a strong Russian presence.
The government of the Republic of the Congo, however, has firmly refuted recent allegations circulating on social media regarding a potential coup in the central African nation. In response, Information Minister Thierry Moungalla used social media to emphatically dismiss them, stating, “Fanciful information suggests there may be serious events underway in Brazzaville (capital of Congo). The government denies this fake news.”
The official government website also published a statement reaffirming its rejection of any reports concerning an attempted coup.
X account user Casus Belli, known for coverage of intelligence reports and military movements, noted that a “few months before the coup in Niger, a rumor was spread the same way (with Congo) on internet, while President [Mohamed] Bazoum was meeting [French President Emmanuel] Macron in Paris.”
Recent months have witnessed a surge in coup d’états across the African continent, with the most recent occurrence happening in neighboring Gabon, where military forces assumed control in August.
Nguesso’s ascent to the presidency of this oil-rich Central African nation began with a military coup in 1979. Although he faced a temporary setback in 1992 when he lost Congo’s initial multi-party elections, he later reclaimed power in 1997 following a period of civil conflict.
Nguesso has maintained his position as president for an uninterrupted 39 years, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
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