The military junta in Gabon has declared Colonel Brice
Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the head of the Republican Guards, as the country’s new
leader, effectively ending the Bongo family’s 55-year rule.
On August 30th, Wednesday, the military formally took control
from Ali Bongo Ondimba, citing a deteriorating social climate that they believe
could lead to future chaos.
They further alleged that the presidential election held on
August 26th was marred by fraudulent practices.
The country’s electoral commission had announced late Tuesday
that the incumbent, Ali Bongo, secured 64.27% of the votes, while the
opposition candidate Ondo Ossa received 30%.
As reported by the Cameroon News Agency, Colonel Nguema’s
previous role as head of the Republican Guards was to provide security for the
president.
The events of the coup on Wednesday signify the Gabonese
military’s discontent with the ongoing irregularities within the nation.
In April 2020, Colonel Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema assumed
command of the Republican Guard, an elite military unit responsible for
safeguarding the head of state, succeeding General Grégoire Kouna, a relative
of Ali Bongo Ondimba.
For over 55 of its 63 years since gaining independence from
France in 1960, Gabon had been governed by the same family. Ali Bongo, aged 64,
took over after his father Omar’s death in 2009, following a nearly 42-year
tenure.
Bongo senior, who assumed office in 1967, was known as a
kleptocrat, amassing immense wealth from Gabon’s oil resources and ranking
among the world’s richest individuals.
The incident in Gabon follows closely after a similar
occurrence in West Africa’s Niger Republic, where members of the Presidential
Guards orchestrated a coup against President Mohammed Bazoum, placing him under
house arrest.
Currently, Ali Bongo Ondimba is also confined to house arrest
at The Residence, the official presidential residence in Gabon, while his
spouse and child are being held at undisclosed locations.
The military junta in Gabon has declared Colonel Brice
Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the head of the Republican Guards, as the country’s new
leader, effectively ending the Bongo family’s 55-year rule.
On August 30th, Wednesday, the military formally took control
from Ali Bongo Ondimba, citing a deteriorating social climate that they believe
could lead to future chaos.
They further alleged that the presidential election held on
August 26th was marred by fraudulent practices.
The country’s electoral commission had announced late Tuesday
that the incumbent, Ali Bongo, secured 64.27% of the votes, while the
opposition candidate Ondo Ossa received 30%.
As reported by the Cameroon News Agency, Colonel Nguema’s
previous role as head of the Republican Guards was to provide security for the
president.
The events of the coup on Wednesday signify the Gabonese
military’s discontent with the ongoing irregularities within the nation.
In April 2020, Colonel Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema assumed
command of the Republican Guard, an elite military unit responsible for
safeguarding the head of state, succeeding General Grégoire Kouna, a relative
of Ali Bongo Ondimba.
For over 55 of its 63 years since gaining independence from
France in 1960, Gabon had been governed by the same family. Ali Bongo, aged 64,
took over after his father Omar’s death in 2009, following a nearly 42-year
tenure.
Bongo senior, who assumed office in 1967, was known as a
kleptocrat, amassing immense wealth from Gabon’s oil resources and ranking
among the world’s richest individuals.
The incident in Gabon follows closely after a similar
occurrence in West Africa’s Niger Republic, where members of the Presidential
Guards orchestrated a coup against President Mohammed Bazoum, placing him under
house arrest.
Currently, Ali Bongo Ondimba is also confined to house arrest
at The Residence, the official presidential residence in Gabon, while his
spouse and child are being held at undisclosed locations.
