A really interesting report into the 2019 attempted coup in Gabon, which was set off by secrecy around President Ali Bongo’s health, and rumours around a New Year’s greeting video where something was very off. While not a Deepfake, it sets out a pretty clear example of how a lack of transparency feeds into questions of legitimacy that can then be spun up into instability.

However, the coup was unsuccessful, and Ali Bongo continues to make appearances, though it seems he needs mobility assistance. Just a few months ago, he appeared at the Future Investment Initiative conference to speak about the Gabon’s climate commitments and encourage foreign investment.