Gabon has become the latest African nation to see its leadership overthrown in a coup d’etat in recent years. 

Minutes after the ailing President Ali Bongo claimed victory in a disputed election last week, military leaders took to national television to announce that the nation was under new management. 

This is the eighth coup on the African continent since 2020, and comes just weeks after Niger’s government fell in similar circumstances, while military conflict is ongoing in Sudan. 

So why does the continent remain unstable, and is there any way to stop more countries going down the same road? And as these incidents damaging the reputation of a rapidly growing and developing African continent? 

Today on The Front Page, Professor of Political Science and lecturer on African Politics at Victoria University of Wellington, Stephen Levine, joins Damien to give us an insight into why military might so often topple leaders.  

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Damien Ventuto
Producer: Paddy Fox and Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

Gabon has become the latest African nation to see its leadership overthrown in a coup d’etat in recent years. 
Minutes after the ailing President Ali Bongo claimed victory in a disputed election last week, military leaders took to national television to announce that the nation was under new management. 
This is the eighth coup on the African continent since 2020, and comes just weeks after Niger’s government fell in similar circumstances, while military conflict is ongoing in Sudan. 
So why does the continent remain unstable, and is there any way to stop more countries going down the same road? And as these incidents damaging the reputation of a rapidly growing and developing African continent? 
Today on The Front Page, Professor of Political Science and lecturer on African Politics at Victoria University of Wellington, Stephen Levine, joins Damien to give us an insight into why military might so often topple leaders.  
Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.
Host: Damien Ventuto Producer: Paddy Fox and Shaun D Wilson Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.

Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. 

Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald&rsquo;s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what&rsquo;s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.
Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture.&nbsp;
Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Every day, The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald. Hosted by Damien Venuto

The Front Page

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news analysis podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future. Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald&rsquo;s daily news analysis podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what&rsquo;s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future. Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.