Gabon Coup: Cameroon’s 90-year-old President, Paul Biya Makes Major Changes In the Military

Posted by Thandiubani on Thu 31st Aug, 2023 - tori.ng

Biya is the second-longest-ruling president in Africa, the longest consecutively serving current non-royal national leader in the world and the oldest head of state in the world.

Just some hours after military officers staged a coup in Gabon, Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya has made some major changes in the country's military.

Biya has just appointed personnel for the internal and external services of the Ministry.

Recall that Biya is the second-longest-ruling president in Africa, the longest consecutively serving current non-royal national leader in the world and the oldest head of state in the world.

Among the posts reshuffled were the delegate to the presidency in charge of defence, air force staff, navy, and the police. He announced the changes on social media platform, X.

Biya aged 90 came to power in a coup d’etat in 1982 and has remained president since he rode to power.

Also, shortly after the Gabon coup, Rwanda’s defence force (RDF) announced on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter, that President Paul Kagame approved the retirement of 83 senior officers.

According to the RDF, Kagame also approved the promotion and appointment of some officers to replace the previous office holders.

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”.