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Gabon’s Military Junta Leader Vows to Return Power to Civilians, But Without a Set Timeline
Brice Nguema, the leader of Gabon’s military junta, was sworn in as interim president on Monday, vowing to return power to civilians after “free, transparent” elections. However, he did not give a date for military rule to end.
Nguema led last Wednesday’s coup against Ali Bongo, who was recently declared the winner of a disputed election. The coup was welcomed by many in Gabon, who are eager for change after Bongo’s 55-year family dynasty.
However, some observers are skeptical of Nguema’s promises to return power to civilians. Nguema himself is a close ally of the Bongo family, and some believe he will simply continue the same corrupt and authoritarian rule.
At his inauguration, Nguema gave a defiant speech, referencing the likes of South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, French statesman Charles de Gaulle, and former Ghanaian leader Jerry Rawlings. He said that his coup was a “patriotic action” that would be “taught in the books of our schools.”
Nguema also said that a new government would be formed “in a few days” and that he would recommend new electoral legislation, a new penal code, and a referendum on a new constitution. He also said that he had instructed the new government to “think without delay” about freeing all political prisoners.
The ceremony was broadcast live on Gabonese TV and across online platforms. Former ministers from the ousted government showed up, but were booed by a crowd of junta sympathizers.
Gabon’s military takeover is the latest in a series of coups in West and Central Africa. The country is the sixth Francophone country to fall under military rule in the last three years. France, the former colonial power, has condemned the coup and called for a swift return to civilian rule.
The African Union has also suspended Gabon, and the UN Security Council is expected to discuss the situation in the coming days.
It remains to be seen whether Nguema will follow through on his promises to return power to civilians. However, his inauguration marks a significant moment in Gabon’s history, and it will be closely watched by the international community.
Eccas Condemns Gabon Coup, Suspends Membership
The Central African regional bloc, known as Eccas, Wednesday suspended Gabon’s membership in response to last week’s coup.
The bloc’s decision was made at a meeting of its leaders in Equatorial Guinea, hosted by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. Nguema, who has been in power for 44 years, said that Gabon’s coup was a “threat to peace, security and stability in the region.”
The coup leader, Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema, was sworn in as transitional president on Monday. He has not given a time frame for returning the country to civilian rule.
The coup in Gabon is the latest in a series of military takeovers in West and Central Africa. In recent years, there have been coups in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
These coups have raised concerns about the stability of the region.
Gabon’s Military Frees Deposed President Ali Bongo
Gabon’s military leaders Thursday freed deposed President Ali Bongo from house arrest. He had been under house arrest since the military seized power last week. The military said Bongo was being freed due to his health, and that he could travel abroad for medical check-ups if he wished.
Bongo suffered a stroke in 2018, and his health was a major concern for many in the lead-up to the 2023 presidential election. The army seized power shortly after Bongo was declared the winner of that election, which was disputed by the opposition.
The decision to free Bongo follows pressure from regional bloc Eccas and neighboring countries. Eccas had called for Bongo’s release, and neighboring countries had threatened to impose sanctions on Gabon if he was not freed.
The coup has been widely condemned in Africa and the West, including by France, the former colonial power which had close ties to the Bongo family. Gabon has been suspended from the African Union.
However, the removal of the Bongo family after almost 56 years in power was welcomed by many Gabonese.
Since the junta’s announcement that it was freeing Bongo, there have been calls for him to face justice over allegations of corruption. A seven-year corruption investigation by French police into the Bongo family was dropped in 2017, but the family strongly denied all the allegations.
It is unclear where Bongo will go now that he has been freed. A likely destination would be Morocco, where he had previously received treatment for his stroke. He enjoys close ties with Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and also reportedly owns a villa in the palm grove of Marrakesh.
Coup leader Gen Brice Oligui Nguema was sworn in as transitional president on Monday. He vowed to return the country to civilian rule after free and fair elections, but did not give a timetable for the transfer of power.
The junta also released other political prisoners, including pro-democracy activist and leader of the most powerful trade union confederation, Jean Rémi Yama, earlier this week.
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