Representatives of the army, which seized power in Gabon during a coup on Wednesday, August 30, have announced General Bryce Oligui Nguema as the new interim leader of the West African country, the BBC reports.
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Hours after the announcement of the ouster of the government and President Ali Bongo, the military met to discuss who would lead the transition from power. The army representatives unanimously agreed to appoint Nguem, the former head of the presidential guard, as the interim leader.
The new head of state commented to the French newspaper “Le Monde” that the people of Gabon no longer wanted to see Bongo as president and he should not have run for a third term. Bongo took over power in 2009 from his father, Omar Bongo, who had ruled Gabon since 1967. The Gabonese Electoral Center (CGE) announced on Wednesday that Bongo had won the election to remain in the presidency for a third term with 64.27% of the vote.
“Everyone is talking about it, but no one is taking responsibility. That’s why the army decided to turn the page,” the new leader said. President Bongo’s ouster ended his family’s 55-year rule of the country.
Shortly after the army’s announcement, crowds of people took to the streets in Liberville to celebrate the coup. The media points out that shortly after the announcement of the new head of state, army troops carried Nguema triumphantly through the streets of the capital.
However, although the coup was celebrated in the country itself, it was widely condemned by the international community. Criticism has come from the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU) and France, which until now has had close ties to the Bongo family.
In a statement, the US State Department urged the Gabonese junta to “maintain civilian rule” and called on “responsible military officials to release government officials and ensure their safety.” Great Britain has also condemned the coup, describing it as an “unconstitutional military takeover”.
The agency “Reuters” informed that the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for foreign affairs, Joseph Borel, emphasized at the meeting of EU defense ministers on Wednesday that the next coup will further worsen the situation in the region: “If the information is really confirmed, then it will be another military coup that will increase instability in the whole in the region.”
“The whole area, starting with the Central African Republic (CAR), then Mali, then Burkina Faso, now Niger, maybe Gabon, is in a very difficult situation. Ministers must definitely think very carefully about what is happening there and how we can improve our policy towards these countries ,” commented Borrell, emphasizing that “this is a big problem for Europe”.
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It was previously reported that on Wednesday, August 30, Gabon’s military officers announced the seizure of power in the West African country. In a televised statement, a dozen senior army officers announced that the election results had been annulled, borders were being closed and state institutions had been dismantled. The military claimed to represent all Gabonese security and defense forces. The representatives indicated that the president has been detained and is under house arrest.
“Reuters” emphasizes that signs of a coup in Gabon appeared only a few weeks after members of the presidential guard seized power and established a junta in Niger.
2023-08-31 14:20:33
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