The fear of military coup spreading across their countries made Cameroon’s president, Paul Biya and Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame to hurriedly retired their military chiefs.
This is coming barely few hours after the coup in Gabon ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba and also, his son was arrested by soldiers for treason. Recalls that Niger’s democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was toppled by his presidential guard in late July.
Following the coup in Gabon and Niger, the 65-year-old Rwanda President, Kagame who has been in power since 2000 (23 years ago), sacked nearly 200 military chiefs, including two four-star generals, James Kabarebe and Fred Ibingira, and two three-star generals, Charles Kayonga and Frank Mushyo Kamanzi.
The statement reads, “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,” Rwandan outlet The New Times reported on Wednesday.
Also, the 90-year-old Cameroon president, Biya who has been in power since 1982 (41 years ago), also reshuffled the military with new appointments to the Controle Generale des Armees.
The new controllers are Capt Ajeagah Njei Félix Colonel and Colonel Nguema Ondo Bertin Bourger.
president Paul Biya came to power in a coup d’etat in 1982 and even after transforming into democratic president along the way has remained in power.
Meetings between Rwanda’s chief of defence staff, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador to Rwanda, and the defence attaché of Cameroon were also held to discuss ways “to enhance defence cooperation between their respective countries”.
