Military Officers Seize Power in Gabon, Putting President Ali Bongo Under House Arrest
LIBREVILLE, Aug 30 (Reuters) – Military officers in Gabon have taken control of the country, seizing power and placing President Ali Bongo under house arrest. The move comes just moments after the Central African state’s election body announced Bongo’s victory in a third term.
The officers, who claim to represent the armed forces, appeared on television to declare the cancellation of the election results, the closure of borders, and the dissolution of state institutions. This comes after a tense vote that was expected to extend the Bongo family’s more than half-century rule.
Brice Oligui Nguema, one of the officers who appeared to be their leader in a video, told French newspaper Le Monde that he and other generals would meet to select someone to head the transitional government.
The military’s intervention was met with street celebrations in the capital city of Libreville, with hundreds of people expressing their joy at the Bongo family’s removal from power. However, the African Union and France, Gabon’s former colonial ruler, which has troops stationed in the country, condemned the coup.
If successful, this would be the eighth coup in West and Central Africa since 2020. Previous military takeovers have occurred in Niger, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Chad, eroding democratic progress in the region and raising concerns among foreign powers with strategic interests.
“I am marching today because I am joyful. After almost 60 years, the Bongos are out of power,” said Jules Lebigui, a 27-year-old who joined the celebratory crowds in Libreville.
Ali Bongo took over as president in 2009 following the death of his father, Omar, who had ruled since 1967. Critics argue that the Bongo family has failed to distribute the country’s oil and mining wealth among its 2.3 million citizens.
Gabon has experienced violent unrest in the past, particularly after Bongo’s disputed election victory in 2016. There was also a foiled coup attempt in 2019.
The military officers, referring to themselves as The Committee of Transition and the Restoration of Institutions, cited a severe crisis in the country and deemed the August 26 election not credible. They also claimed to have arrested President Bongo’s son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, and others on charges of corruption and treason.
Republican Guard chief Nguema stated that a leader had not yet been chosen, but a meeting would be held to decide on the transitional government’s head.
There has been no immediate comment from Gabon’s government, and President Bongo’s whereabouts remain unconfirmed.
The coup in Gabon is seen as part of a wider trend of democratic backsliding in the region. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the current chair of the West African bloc ECOWAS, described it as a “contagion of autocracy” spreading across the continent. Tinubu stated that he is working closely with other African leaders to determine the appropriate response to the situation in Gabon.
The African Union condemned the coup and called on the military to ensure the safety of President Bongo and his family. China and Russia expressed hopes for a swift return to stability.
The coup also raises uncertainties for France’s presence in the region, as the country has approximately 350 troops stationed in Gabon. France has previously been expelled from Mali and Burkina Faso following coups in those countries.
French mining company Eramet, which operates large manganese operations in Gabon, announced that it has halted its operations.
Gabon is a significant oil producer, with daily production of around 200,000 barrels, primarily from depleting fields. International companies, including France’s TotalEnergies and Anglo-French producer Perenco, have interests in the country.
Concerns about the transparency of the recent election were raised due to the lack of international observers, the suspension of foreign broadcasts, and the imposition of internet cuts and a night-time curfew after the vote. Bongo’s team has denied allegations of fraud.
Internet access in Gabon appeared to be restored for the first time since the vote on Wednesday.
Shortly before the coup announcement, the election authority declared Bongo the winner with 64.27% of the vote, while his main challenger, Albert Ondo Ossa, secured 30.77%.
Gabon’s dollar-denominated bonds experienced a significant drop following the coup, falling as much as 14 cents before recovering to trade down 9.5 cents on the dollar.
Additional reporting by Alessandra Prentice, Elizabeth Pineau, Felix Onuah, Sofia Christensen, Sudip Kar-Gupta, and Liz Lee; writing by Nellie Peyton and Sofia Christensen; editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Edmund Blair, and Mark Heinrich.
How does the military takeover in Gabon compare to previous military coups in West and Central Africa since 2020?
Military Officers Take Control of Gabon, Place President Ali Bongo Under House Arrest
In a surprising turn of events, military officers in Gabon have seized control of the country, placing President Ali Bongo under house arrest. The move came shortly after the election body announced Bongo’s victory in a third term. The officers, claiming to represent the armed forces, made their announcement on television, declaring the cancellation of the election results, the closure of borders, and the dissolution of state institutions. This comes after a tense election that was expected to extend the Bongo family’s rule, which has lasted for over half a century.
Brice Oligui Nguema, one of the officers who appeared as their leader in a video, told French newspaper Le Monde that he and other generals would convene to select someone to lead the transitional government. The military’s intervention was met with celebrations in the capital city of Libreville, with many expressing their satisfaction at the removal of the Bongo family from power. However, the coup has been condemned by the African Union and France, Gabon’s former colonial ruler, which has military presence in the country.
If successful, this would be the eighth coup in West and Central Africa since 2020. Previous military takeovers have occurred in countries such as Niger, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Chad, raising concerns among foreign powers and undermining democratic progress in the region.
Gabon has a history of violent unrest, particularly after Bongo’s disputed election victory in 2016. There was also a failed coup attempt in 2019. The military officers, who refer to themselves as The Committee of Transition and the Restoration of Institutions, stated that the country was in a severe crisis and deemed the August 26 election not credible. They also claimed to have detained President Bongo’s son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, and others on charges of corruption and treason.
The whereabouts of President Bongo remain unknown, and the government has not released any immediate comment on the situation. This coup is seen as part of a larger trend of democratic regression in the region. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the current chair of the West African bloc ECOWAS, described it as a spreading “contagion of autocracy” across the continent.
