General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has taken the oath in the Presidential Palace on Monday September 4th, in front of a packed, boisterous room of Government officials, military and local leaders in Gabon’s capital, Libreville.
In his inaugural speech, the transition President said, “As the former Ghanaian President, Jerry John Rawlings said, “When the people are crushed by their leaders, with the complicity of the judges, it is up to the army to give them their freedom.”
“It is with this spirit that on August 30, 2023, like a meteorite in the dark night, the Defense and Security Forces of our country took their responsibilities by refusing the electoral Coup d’état which had just been announced by the Gabonese Elections Center following an outrageously biased electoral process.
“The Republican Army refused to support a Crime which, once too often, would have cost the lives of many Citizens. The defense and security forces had a double choice: either kill Gabonese people, who legitimately demonstrated, or put an end to a rigged electoral process, the conditions of which did not allow democratic expression”, he said.
The 48years old top Gabonese Army General, General Brice Oligui who was sworn in as Gabon’s Transition President overthrown President Ali Bongo which was reported to be his cousin in a Bloodless Coup on August 30, 2023, hours after his declaration as the winner of controversial August 26, 2023 Presidential Election.
Recall that in a French statement on Wednesday which was read out by one of the officer on Gabon 24 television channel said the military junta has announced “putting an end to the regime” and cancelling the results of a recent election.
The military who expressed dissatisfaction to the general elections of 26 August 2023, admitted that the organisation of the polls did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot which brings so much hoped for people of Gabon
The outcome of the election heightened tensions, forcing the military to intervene. “We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime,” one of the soldiers said during the declaration.
This, the Gabonese military junta added, was down to “irresponsible, unpredictable governance resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion that risks leading the country into chaos”.
Also, a video surfaced on social media platforms where the ousted Gabonese President, Ali Bongo, was begging his international friends to “make noise” following Wednesday’s coup.
According to the report, in the 51-second video, Bongo confirmed that he had been arrested and isolated from his son and wife, who he said were held at another place.
Bongo who mentioned his name as Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon said, “I am sending a message to all friends that we have all over the world, to tell them to make noise, to make noise.”
Born Alain Bernard Bongo on February 9, 1959, in Congo- Brazzaville, the 64-year-old was Gabon’s president from 2009 when his Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon for almost 42 years, from 1967 died.