2023-09-04 14:38:43
General Brice Oligui Nguema, who overthrew Ali Bongo five days ago in Gabon, was sworn in on Monday September 4 as president of a « transition » the duration of which he has not fixed, promising to install “more democratic institutions” before “free elections”.
Putschist soldiers had announced on August 30 the “end of regime” of Ali Bongo Ondimba, who had ruled Gabon for 14 years, less than an hour after the proclamation of his re-election in the August 26 election, believing that it had been rigged.
The sequel after the ad
Viewing this video is likely to lead to the deposit of cookies by the operator of the video platform to which you will be directed. Given the refusal of the deposit of cookies that you have expressed, in order to respect your choice, we have blocked the playback of this video. If you wish to continue and play the video, you must give us your consent by clicking on the button below.
Play video
The next day, they proclaimed General Oligui, 48, president of a Committee for the Transition and the Restoration of Institutions (CTRI).
“Free and transparent” elections
“I swear before God and the Gabonese people to faithfully preserve the republican regime”, “to preserve the achievements of democracy”Brigadier General in red ceremonial costume of the Republican Guard (GR), the elite army unit he commanded, told judges of the Constitutional Court.
Coup d’etat in Gabon: General Brice Oligui Nguema appointed “president of the transition”, Ali Bongo under house arrest… Update on the situation
General Oligui promised “free elections” et « transparent » at the end of the transition period and undertook to grant amnesty to the “prisoners of conscience”. The Bongo family had ruled this small central African state for more than 55 years, one of the richest on the continent thanks to its oil, but whose wealth was monopolized by an elite accused of « corruption » « massive » and of “poor governance”.
Coup d’etat in Gabon: who is General Brice Oligui Nguema, appointed president of the transition by the putschists?
Ali Bongo Ondimba, 64, under house arrest since the putsch, was elected in 2009 on the death of his father Omar Bongo Ondimba, who had already ruled the country for more than 41 years. THE “patriarch” was also one of the pillars of the “Francafrique”system of political cooptation, commercial preserves and corruption between France and some of its former colonies on the continent.
The sequel after the ad
Avoid “bloodshed”
Wednesday at dawn, less than an hour after the re-election announced at nearly 65% of Ali Bongo, soldiers proclaimed “the end of the regime”signing a putsch “without bloodshed”, assured General Oligui. No deaths or injuries have been reported to date.
Viewing this video is likely to lead to the deposit of cookies by the operator of the video platform to which you will be directed. Given the refusal of the deposit of cookies that you have expressed, in order to respect your choice, we have blocked the playback of this video. If you wish to continue and play the video, you must give us your consent by clicking on the button below.
Play video
The African Union, the European Union, the UN and many Western capitals condemned the coup, but generally insisted on a ” difference “ with the putschs in other countries of the continent (eight in three years) because it was preceded, according to them, by a manifestly fraudulent election. “An institutional coup”even underlined the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell.
Coup d’etat in Gabon: the Bongo family, 55 years of a ruling dynasty
The general said to himself on Monday ” surprised “ of the condemnation of the coup d’etat, considering that the soldiers acted to avoid a ” bloodshed “. The army has “ended August 30” to the Bongo regime, barely proclaimed re-elected, accusing him of “electoral coup”.
“The defense and security forces had a double choice: either kill Gabonese who had legitimately demonstrated, or put an end to a manifestly rigged electoral process”he launched in his inaugural speech as President of the transition. “Our astonishment is great when we hear certain international institutions condemn the act of soldiers who have only respected their oath under the flag: to save the fatherland at the risk of their lives”he said.
The sequel after the ad
Fight against corruption
Since then, General Oligui has chained, at a frantic pace, hours of highly publicized discussions with all the “living forces of the Nation” : clergy, business leaders, trade unions, civil society, many political parties and former ministers, NGOs, diplomats, donors, journalists… He conscientiously took notes and answered questions at length and grievances.
The new strongman of Libreville insists that he has made the fight against corruption and bad governance his main battle horse with the “recovery of the economy” and the redistribution of the country’s income and wealth to the people.
He promised Friday to organize, without specifying when, “free, transparent, credible and peaceful elections”. But this only after having had it adopted, “by referendum”a new Constitution for “more democratic institutions” et “respectful of human rights”. “Without haste”he specified.
#inauguration #General #Oligui #promises #free #transparent #elections