Gabon was at the mercy of the military, which declared the results of the recent presidential elections invalid and liquidated the existing state bodies. This shocking development follows the re-election of President Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba, the son of the previous leader, who was in power for 42 years until his death in 2009.

Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba was re-elected for a third term with 64% of the vote, a result that the opposition called bogus. Ondimba and his family held power in Gabon for 56 years, making this coup an especially significant event.

From 1967 to 2009, Ali Ben Bongo's father, Omar Bongo, managed to maintain control over the country, turning it into one of the most stable, but also closed and authoritarian states on the African continent. After his death, his son took over the government and continued the family tradition, albeit with less approval from the people and the opposition.

The coup casts doubt on the future of the Bongo family in Gabon's political arena and could open the door to a new, more democratic leadership, although this is still unclear. This upheaval also presents a major challenge for the international community, which must now decide how to respond to this crisis.

The opposition, which has long spoken of electoral manipulation and injustice, may use this situation to establish a new order if the military provides such an opportunity. Whether the military will support a democratic transition or establish its own form of authoritarianism remains an open question.

The influence of this coup may extend beyond Gabon. Given the country's geopolitical position and its rich natural resources, including oil, this crisis could have implications for stability in Central Africa as a whole.

Now the international community, especially the African Union and the UN, is faced with the need to actively intervene in the situation. Whether sanctions will be adopted or whether a peace process will be initiated remains a big question.

The events in Gabon are part of a wider trend of military coups and political changes on the African continent. However, the uniqueness of this case lies in the long family rule, which is now in jeopardy. Although much remains unclear, one thing is for sure: the military coup in Gabon has the potential to be a significant turning point in the history of the country and possibly the entire region.