"Gabon's Military Coup: Instability in Africa Raises Concerns for the West"

A military coup in Gabon has ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family has held power for over 50 years, just minutes after he was declared the winner of a contested election. Bongo, who has faced accusations of election fraud and corruption, is reportedly under house arrest, while his son and six others have been arrested for "high treason." The coup leaders have dissolved government bodies, closed borders, and imposed a curfew. International leaders have condemned the coup, with the African Union and the United Nations calling for a return to democratic order. The coup reflects a trend of coups in Africa's former French colonies, driven by corruption, mismanagement, and poverty, as well as a growing disillusionment among young Africans with allegedly corrupt leaders.