Military Officers Seize Power in Gabon, Placing President Ali Bongo Under House Arrest
On August 30, military officers in Gabon announced that they had seized power, placing President Ali Bongo under house arrest. The officers declared on television that they represented the armed forces and canceled the election results, closed the country’s borders, and dissolved state institutions. This move comes after the Central African state’s election body declared Bongo the winner of a third term, which was met with widespread controversy.
In a televised address, the officers announced that General Brice Oligui Nguema, former head of the presidential guard, would be the new leader of Gabon. These developments sparked widespread celebrations in the capital, Libreville, where hundreds of people took to the streets to express their support for the military’s intervention.
Meanwhile, President Ali Bongo appealed for support from his detention in his residence. In a video statement, Bongo expressed confusion about the situation and called on foreign allies to speak out on his and his family’s behalf. Bongo’s appeal came after the electoral commission declared him the winner of Saturday’s disputed vote.
The military takeover in Gabon marks the eighth such incident in West and Central Africa since 2020. Military officers have also seized power in countries such as Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Chad, raising concerns among foreign powers that have strategic interests in the region. The United Nations, African Union, and France, Gabon’s former colonial ruler with troops stationed there, have all condemned the coup.
The Bongo family has ruled Gabon for more than half a century, with Ali Bongo taking over in 2009 following the death of his father, Omar Bongo, who had been in power since 1967. Critics of the family argue that they have not done enough to distribute the country’s oil and mining wealth among its population of 2.3 million people.
The military officers, who call themselves The Committee of Transition and the Restoration of Institutions, cited a severe crisis in the country as their justification for seizing power. They claimed that the Aug. 26 election was not credible and announced the arrest of President Bongo’s son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, and others for corruption and treason.
The international community has called on the military to ensure the safety of President Bongo and his family. The situation has also raised concerns about France’s presence in the region, as the country has troops stationed in Gabon. French miner Eramet has halted its operations, and there is uncertainty about the future of France’s involvement in the volatile region.
Gabon, an oil-producing country, produces approximately 200,000 barrels of oil per day. International companies such as TotalEnergies and Perenco are active in the country. The coup has caused Gabon’s dollar-denominated bonds to fall, highlighting the economic implications of the political instability.
The military takeover in Gabon adds to the growing trend of democratic backsliding in West and Central Africa. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the current chair of West African bloc ECOWAS, referred to it as a “contagion of autocracy” spreading across the continent. African leaders are working closely to respond to the situation in Gabon and address the broader democratic challenges in the region.
As the situation unfolds, the international community will closely monitor developments in Gabon and assess the implications for regional stability and democratic governance.