2023-08-31 19:11:52
The situation continues to evolve in Gabon this Thursday, August 31, the day after the military coup that put an end to Ali Bongo’s power. The outgoing president had just been re-elected for a third term after 14 years in power, under very contested conditions.
• The “transitional president” will be sworn in on Monday 4 September
He is the new strongman of Gabon. General Brice Oligui Nguema, who is one of the soldiers behind the coup, was appointed Wednesday as “transitional president”.
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He will take an oath “before the Constitutional Court on Monday, September 4, 2023 at the Presidency of the Republic”Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi, spokesperson for the Committee for the Transition and the Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), which brings together all the heads of the army corps, announced on state television.
Coup d’etat in Gabon: General Brice Oligui Nguema appointed “president of the transition”, Ali Bongo under house arrest… Update on the situation
He has moreover ” decided […] the gradual establishment of transitional institutions”the duration of which has not been specified, according to the spokesperson.
• The putschists promise to respect the country’s commitments
At the same time, the putschists promised that Gabon would respect all its commitments on the internal and external levels. “Brigadier General Brice Oligui Nguema, transitional president, wishes to reassure all donors, development partners and creditors of the State that all measures will be taken to guarantee compliance with the commitments of our country both externally and internally.declared Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi.
• The opposition asks the putschists to recognize the “victory” of their candidate
According to the results officially proclaimed an hour before the coup d’etat, and which the putschists considered rigged, Albert Ondo Ossa, opponent of the outgoing president, had won 30.77% of the vote against 64.27% for Ali Bongo. But on taking power, the military ” canceled “ elections and dissolves all institutions.
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The main opposition platform, Alternance 2023, asked the military to complete the counting of ballots to recognize the « victoire » of its candidate. “Present in front of each polling station and having watched over the transport of the ballot boxes, the security and defense forces are the first witnesses of the large victory of Professor Albert Ondo Ossa”assured the press Mike Jocktane, spokesperson for Alternance 2023.
• The African Union “suspends” Gabon immediately
The Peace and Security Council of the African Union announced on Thursday evening the suspension with immediate effect of Gabon. The continental organization strongly condemns the takeover by the military in the Republic of Gabon » et « decides to immediately suspend Gabon’s participation in all activities of the AU, its organs and institutions “, announced the AU in a press release.
• Condemnations and concerns about the recent elections
Since the coup, condemnations have poured in from all over the world. Several Western powers, however, accompanied their message with a comment on the lack of transparency of the recent elections in Gabon.
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Thursday morning, the head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell thus insisted on the difference between the coups in Niger and in Gabon, stressing that the latter followed tainted elections. “irregularities”. Moreover, he felt that a rigged election could be interpreted as a “institutional coup”.
Germany also condemned the putsch, while emphasizing that there is ” legitimate criticism of the transparency and legality of the recent elections”. As for the United Kingdom, while it condemned “the unconstitutional military takeover in Gabon”, it acknowledged “concerns raised by the recent electoral process, including restrictions on media freedom”.
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