The leaders of the coup in Gabon on Wednesday named Republican Guard chief General Brice Oligui Nguema transitional president, according to a TV statement, after the military seized control in the wake of elections.
Vanguard report that, “General Oligui Nguema Brice was unanimously appointed chairman of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions, chairman of the transition,” declared an officer in the presence of dozens of senior officers, according to the press release read out on Gabon 24.
Nigeria expressed concern over “contagious autocracy” on the continent, where the military has taken over in five other countries since 2020, and the African Union (AU) denounced the alleged takeover.
Vanguard report that, The coup leaders claimed that Bongo, 64, who succeeded his father Omar in 2009, was under house arrest and had one of his sons jailed for treason.
A group of officers gave a theatrical statement before daybreak declaring that “all the institutions of the republic” had been dissolved, the election results had been thrown out, and the borders had been closed.
“Today, the country is going through a serious institutional, political, economic, and social crisis,” the statement that was read on state TV said.
An officer read it, accompanied by a dozen army colonels, special Republican Guard soldiers, regular soldiers, and others.
According to Vanguard in a statement, the elections “did not meet the requirements for a transparent, credible, and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon.”
“Add to this irresponsible and unpredictable governance, which is causing social cohesion to continue to decline and poses a threat to throw the nation into chaos.”
The Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) declared, “We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime on behalf of the people of Gabon and as guarantors of the institutions’ protection.”
Lukundu (
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