In a televised ceremony on Monday, Gen. Brice Nguema, the leader of Gabon’s military junta, was officially sworn in as the interim president by the country’s constitutional court.
Last week, General Nguema led a coup that resulted in the removal of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, marking the end of the Bongo family’s long-standing dominance in Gabonese politics. Ali Bongo had succeeded his father, Omar Bongo, who ruled the nation for over four decades with an iron grip until his passing in 2009.
Prior to the coup, President Bongo, who had been in power for nearly 14 years, was declared the winner of a contested presidential election marred by voting delays, internet disruptions, and restrictions on foreign press coverage.
In the wake of the coup, the ousted leader, Ali Bongo, was placed under house arrest by the junta, which also invalidated the election results and imposed border closures, drawing widespread global condemnation.
The nation witnessed jubilant celebrations as thousands of supporters expressed solidarity with the military.
General Nguema, a former bodyguard of Omar Bongo, swiftly assumed the role of a transitional leader. He was inaugurated as interim president during Monday’s ceremony, accompanied by a military parade and enthusiastic cheers from his civilian supporters.
Before taking office, Nguema granted approval for the reopening of Gabon’s borders and engaged with political leaders to discuss reform and the potential transitional period, as reported by local media.
The duration of General Nguema’s tenure remains uncertain. He has previously emphasized the country’s cautious approach to a new election, aiming to avoid a repetition of past mistakes.
In response, a coalition of opposition parties in Gabon has called upon the junta to resume the electoral process and complete the vote count, potentially opening the path to victory for opposition leader Albert Ondo Ossa, the runner-up in the annulled election.
It is worth noting that several former French colonies, including Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Tunisia, and now Gabon, have experienced nine coups in the past three years, undermining democratic progress in these nations. Many Gabonese citizens view Ali Bongo’s removal as a significant victory in the oil-rich but economically challenged state.