The military officer who spearheaded a coup d’état resulting in the removal of President Ali Bongo of Gabon is scheduled to make his first public address on Monday, September 4th. Following a swearing-in ceremony on the same day, he will assume the role of interim president, marking a strategic move by the junta to consolidate their authority.
The coup unfolded on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, when military officers, led by General Brice Oligui Nguema, seized control of the nation’s government. This seizure transpired shortly after an announcement that Bongo had secured a third term in an election, a result the military invalidated, citing concerns about its credibility.
Remarkably, this event marks the eighth coup within the West and Central Africa region over the course of just three years. General Nguema, who has emerged as the de facto leader of the coup, is slated to be sworn in as the Transition President at 1000 GMT and will deliver a televised address to the nation.
While the coup was met with celebratory demonstrations in the streets of the capital, Libreville, it drew widespread international condemnation. Leaders of the Central African regional bloc, ECCAS, are set to convene in person on Monday to deliberate on their response to the ouster. Last week, they implored international partners, including the United Nations and the African Union, to facilitate a swift return to constitutional governance.
The junta has yet to articulate the duration of their intended rule. General Nguema mentioned on Friday that their transition would be executed “quickly but surely,” cautioning against excessive haste that might compromise the credibility of future elections.
Gabon’s primary opposition group, Alternance 2023, which asserts its rightful victory in the August 26 election, has called upon the international community to encourage the junta to relinquish power in favor of civilian leadership. Members of Alternance 2023 held talks with General Nguema on Sunday, although the details of their discussions have not been disclosed.
In the meantime, President Ali Bongo remains under house arrest. He ascended to power in 2009, succeeding his late father, who had ruled Gabon since 1967. Critics contend that the Bongo family failed to adequately distribute the nation’s oil and mining wealth among its 2.3 million citizens.