TikTok's Exploding With 'Lives' About Coup d'état's; Somalia Banned The App, Sierra Leone Suspended Internet For Days

Wednesday, 30 August 2023

By: TB Obwoge

Scrolling TikTok one couldn't help but notice my feed was angry. From early morning, to late night in African countries there were nothing but TikTok Lives about the latest coup in the Central African country of Gabon. I now understand why Somalia banned the app, while Sierra Leone suspended internet service for a few days.

A TikTok Live is a live, streaming video, where hosts can invite others to talk about any given topics. Today, there were more than 20 of them that I was able to see throughout the day. From the time of the military take over in Gabon until late in the night in some of the African countries the users were claiming to be in.

Quick history of the political scene in Gabon. Officially named the Gabonese Republic, it's a former French colony in central Africa. This country was ruled by the same family for 53-years. In an election just held days ago, President Ali Bongo Ondimba "claims" he won re-election. Bongo has been in power since his father died in 2009.

His father El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba, was in power for 42-years. From 2 December 1967, until he died on 8 June 2009. He was known to be a man that had a ridiculous amount of wealth, while the Gabanese people weren't wealthy. He married twice, divorcing his first wife whom he had 2 children with. He remarried, having 9 more children. But was said to have more than 30 children by various women.

After his time in the military, he went into politics at the age of 28-years old. He created Gabon's one and only political party.

After sometime he created a multi party system, yet some how always ended up winning every election. He kept the rich, well basically rich while continuing to gain wealth himself. The countries elites kept him in power as well because they were greedy and corrupted.

In 2009 his son Ali Bongo Ondimba, won an election. He continued in with his father's corrupted ways and 30 August 2023 he was overthrown by his military. During vote counting he refused to allow citizens to witness the counting.

He was declared the winner by some 54% but that wasn't what the military was going to continue to allow.

TikTok has been playing a cruial role in discussing coups over the last few weeks. African citizens are rightfully upset, how can the richest in minerals countries be performing so poorly? Not all African countries are having such issues either.

Just recently in Sierra Leone, there were 14 people arrested, the were military, current and retired, police, current and retired and some private citizens. At that time TikTok was suspended. In Somalia TikTok has been suspended. Senegal has also suspended internet services during protest over the issues with Sonko, who's an opposition leader.

Social media, TikTok especially is a planning place for Africans who are either in favor or against the military coups.

Sadly, I was able to spot the account of a Ghana military soldier, he used the name of a unit based in the Upper Eastern part of Ghana. It was scary because in listening to some of the lives, some Africans expressed hatred for westerners.

Not just their government but westerners, even Blacks from Africa that didn't live in Africa currently. One man didn't care that an African who was born on the continent but lived in the UK, was even African. He proclaimed her as a westerner, she argued with his assertion. He even used hate

Those in the chats would argue with one another, the topics always switch to tribalism, colorism and ethnic issues. Some even calling each other names, others would often mute or kick out speakers.

One calling all mitlitary leaders criminals. The sad part is, Western nations were blamed for all the wrongs in Africa. From corrupted and greedy leaders to drug use, drinking and even street crimes.

TikTok isn't the only place, TikTok is the worst place, as it doesn't control these lives at all, some of the things said were hateful and violent. Which the one African lady pointed out when she said the user was calling all white people devils.

There is a so-called media house in Ghana, UTV News. Though it rarely has any written news, it posts news videos, many which are poorly narrorated by people out in the community. The stories are often incorrect, or sometimes shared by bloggers with unconfirmed leads.

UTV News Ghana, even shared an old video of the leader of Burkina Faso after he took over power in the country, claiming it was him arriving back in Burkina Faso from the Russia-Africa summit. Sadly a lot of their news inflames hatred and violence towards the LGTBQ community. Facebook rarely removes comments, only placing a hidden warning over them.

Once under a news story used to inflame hatred towards Nigerian in Ghana, several Ghanians threaten the lives of Nigerians. One of them claiming they burned Nigerians alive in his area of Ghana, Facebook didn't remove that comment either, just placed "some comments are hidden that contain offensive words." You then simply click unhide to see them.

Some countries to watch out for right now with the trend of coups in Africa are: Sierra Leone, Senegal, Cameroon and possibly The Gambia. Though things are silent in The Gambia currently, there is also talk of Malawi becoming a "failed state" that is from their own media houses and some of their social media sites.

Nigerians were in the lives but most were divided on coups and the situation in the country. Many are unhappy with these elderly leaders.