Gabon’s coup leader, Colonel Brice Oligui Nguema, has been sworn in as the interim president of the country on Monday, September 4, 2023, in a ceremony that was broadcast live on state television.
Nguema, who led a group of military officers to overthrow President Ali Bongo Ondimba last week, said he would form a transitional government and organise free and fair elections within a year.
He also promised to restore peace and stability in the oil-rich nation, which has been gripped by political and social unrest since Bongo’s disputed re-election in August.
Nguema said he had the support of the majority of the armed forces and the people of Gabon, who celebrated his coup as a liberation from a dynasty that has ruled the country for nearly 56 years.
He also called for dialogue and cooperation with regional and international partners, saying he was committed to respecting Gabon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Bongo, who has been under house arrest since the coup, has not been seen or heard from since he made a video appeal for help on Wednesday. His whereabouts and health condition are unknown.
The international community has condemned the coup and called for a peaceful resolution of the crisis. The African Union, the United Nations, the European Union and France, Gabon’s former colonial power, have all urged the restoration of constitutional order and respect for democratic principles.
Gabon is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and produces about 181,000 barrels of crude oil per day. It is also home to a rich biodiversity and hosts about half of Africa’s forest elephants. The country has a population of about 2.2 million people and ranks among the most prosperous in sub-Saharan Africa, but also suffers from widespread poverty and inequality.
