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Tag: Gabon

  • Gabon’s new military ruler sworn in as caretaker president

    Gabon’s new military ruler sworn in as caretaker president

    Gabon’s new military ruler, Gen. Brice Nguema, was sworn in as the country’s caretaker president on Monday, five days after seizing power in a coup in the Central African country.

    The inauguration ceremony took place at Gabon’s presidential palace in the capital Libreville, which was surrounded by cheering crowds.

    On Saturday, Nguema pledged to introduce more democracy after the military overthrew President Ali Bongo from the long-term ruling Bongo family on Aug. 30.

    The suspension of all state institutions is a temporary measure, Nguema said on state television, without specifying any concrete steps or a timetable for new elections.

    Read Also: Gabon Coup: A threat to sustainability of democratic tendencies in Africa

    A spokesman for the putschists said later that Gabon’s borders had been reopened with immediate effect.

    The military initially closed all land, sea and air borders after the putsch on August 30. Nguema, the head of the presidential guard, was then named the new ruler.

    Four days earlier, Bongo was elected for a third term, according to official results that the putschists subsequently annulled, deeming them to be falsified.

    The Bongo family, which has ruled autocratically for more than 50 years, has long been accused of corruption.

    Gabon’s population of about 2.3 million people lives mostly in poverty inspite of the country’s oil wealth. (dpa/NAN) 

  • Gabonese military junta swears in coup leader today

    Gabonese military junta swears in coup leader today

    The leader of the military junta  which ousted Gabon’s President Ali Bongo will be sworn in today as interim President. 

    General Brice Oligui Nguema, according to Reuter, is expected to address the nation for the first time as interim President after a swearing-in ceremony that would appear to solidify the junta’s grip on power.

    The military officers led by Nguema seized power on Aug. 30, minutes after an announcement that Bongo had secured a third term in an election – a result they annulled and said was not credible.

    The Gabonese coup is the eighth in the last three years in West and Central Africa.

    The coup, which ended the Bongo family’s 56-year dynasty, drew cheering crowds onto the streets of the capital Libreville. But the forceful takeover had received condemnation from abroad.

    Read Also: Resurgence of coup d’état in Africa

    Leaders of the Central African regional bloc ECCAS are due to meet in person on Monday to discuss their response to the ouster. Last week they urged partners led by the United Nations and the African Union to support a rapid return to constitutional order.

    The junta has not yet said how long it envisages holding power. On Friday, Nguema said it would proceed “quickly but surely,” but cautioned that too much haste could lead to elections that lack credibility.

    Gabon’s main opposition group, Alternance 2023, which says it is the rightful winner of the Aug. 26 election, has called on the international community to encourage the junta to hand power back to civilians.

  • Gabon reopens borders three days after military coup

    Gabon reopens borders three days after military coup

    The Gabonese military junta on Saturday announced the reopening of borders.

    The army closed the borders during Wednesday’s military coup which ousted President Ali Bongo.

    The takeover in Gabon follows coups in Guinea, Chad and Niger as well as two each in Mali and Burkina Faso since 2020, worrying international powers with strategic interests at stake.

    Military officers led by General Brice Oligui Nguema seized power on Wednesday, placed Bongo under house arrest and installed Nguema as Head of State, ending the Bongo family’s 56-year hold on power.

    The coup – the eighth in West and Central Africa in three years – has raised concerns about a contagion of military takovers across the region that have erased democratic progress made in the last two decades.

    Coup leaders have come under international pressure to restore civilian government but said last night that they would not rush to hold elections.

    Read Also: Gabon junta faces first dissension as opposition group demands power

    The land, sea and air borders were opened because the junta was “concerned with preserving respect for the rule of law, good relations with our neighbors and all states of the world” and wanted to keep its “international commitments,” the army spokesman said on national television.

    Bongo was elected in 2009, taking over from his late father Omar, who came to power in 1967. Opponents say the family did little to share Gabon’s oil and mining wealth.

  • Gabon junta faces first dissension as opposition group demands power

    Gabon junta faces first dissension as opposition group demands power

    • Brands coup ‘family affair’

    Gabon’s main opposition candidate in the August 26 presidential election, Albert Ondo Ossa, yesterday kicked over Wednesday’s coup in the country and demanded that he should be installed as president immediately.

    He branded the coup as a disappointment and family affair, a veiled reference to what some people in Gabon suspect to be the involvement of some members of the Bongo family in the ouster of President Al Bongo.

    Onsa himself had earlier told French channel TV5 Monde that the coup had been orchestrated by Pascaline Bongo, sister of the deposed president.

    Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, the opposition candidate called General Brice Oligui Nguema who is scheduled to be sworn in on Monday as president as a “little Bongo”.

    “I consider myself to be the candidate who won the presidential election,” Ossa told Al Jazeera on Thursday, adding that the election outcome and military takeover were “two coups in one”.

    Onsa who had served as education minister under Bongo’s father, Omar, when Nguema was a captain in the Republican Guard added: “I follow political activity in the country, I see how the institutions work, I see how the presidential guard works and I saw the rise of Brice Oligui Nguema and I knew something was up.

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    “You think you’re saving your country, but then you realize you’re back to square one. It’s embarrassing.

     “He’s a cousin of Bongo, so how can I think he’s different? It’s a palace revolution, we’re still in Bongo power … he grew up in the palace, this young man. I knew him as a relative of Bongo, as all Gabonese know.

    “Basically, I think the Bongo family got rid of one of its members who was weighing on the family, and they wanted Bongo power to continue, while at the same time preventing Albert Ondo Ossa from coming to power.

    “It was a palace revolution, not a coup d’etat. This is a family affair, where one brother replaces another.”

    He said the initial jubilation that greeted the coup on the streets of Gabon would soon be replaced by a realisation that the Bongo family was still in power by proxy.

    Ossa said he was committed to seeing his mandate returned, but would not call for citizens to take to the streets to demonstrate.

     Instead, he promised to prioritise internal and external diplomatic channels in “ensuring that republican order returns.”

    In a separate interview with the BBC, Onsa’s spokesperson, Alexandra Pangha, said it was absurd for the military junta to swear in Nguema, when what it should do is hand power back to civilians.

    “We were happy that Ali Bongo was overthrown but … we hope that the international community will stand up in favour of the Republic and the democratic order in Gabon by asking the military to give back the power to the civilians,” Pangha said.

    She said Alternance 2023 wanted a full vote count from Tuesday’s election, which it said would show Ondo Ossa had won.

    Gabon‘s election commission said after the election that Bongo had been re-elected with 64% of the vote, while Ondo Ossa secured almost 31%. Ballot counting was done without independent observers amid an internet blackout.

    Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi, spokesman for the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) said on Thursday that Nguema would be sworn in as “transitional president” on Monday, at the constitutional court.

    The coup leaders said  Oligui would then  “phase in transitional institutions.”

  • AU suspends Gabon

    AU suspends Gabon

    • Cameroon, Rwanda, rejig military
    • Tinubu: Niger junta can quit within 1 year

    The African Union’s Peace and Security Council yesterday suspended  Central African Country Gabon where soldiers took over government on Wednesday.

    The junta will on Monday inaugurate its leader, Gen. Brice  Nguema as the “transitional president of the troubled country.

    But Gabon’s main opposition, the Alternance 2023 coalition, wants the coup leaders to declare it as the winner of Saturday’s disputed presidential  election. 

    President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who was named winner of the poll , was overthrown by soldiers on Wednesday, hours after the country’s electoral body declared him re-elected for another term of seven years.

    While Ondimba’s ouster and detention drew international condemnations, the Gabonese trooped to the streets hailing the soldiers for ending the Bongo family’s almost 56 years in power.

    After a meeting of its  Peace and Security Council on the situation, the AU said it had decided to  “suspend the participation of Gabon in all activities of its organs and institutions”.

    The AU said the meeting was chaired by its Commissioner for Political Affairs Bankole Adeoye and the current holder of the council’s rotating chair, Burundi’s Nyamitwe.

    The swearing-in of Gen. Nguema will take place at the constitutional court, said the junta’s  Spokesman, Col. Ulrich  Manfoumbi,  yesterday.

    Following the Gabon coup, two  African countries moved to ward off the   Niger and Gabon experiences by retiring their generals and rejigging their military structures.

    The countries are Rwanda which sent  12 generals and 678 soldiers packing and  Cameroon which reorganised its Defence Ministry by making new appointments. 

    Rwanda’s  Defence Force (RDF) said President Paul Kagame approved retirements in the military that included officers serving as ambassadors. He also okayed the appointment of a fresh set of  generals   to lead Army divisions   

    The RDF explained that prominent figures from Rwanda’s 1994 liberation war, including Gen. James Kabarebe, Gen. Fred Ibingira, and Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga, were among the retirees.

    Kabarebe and Kayonga previously held the position of chief of defence staff of the Rwandan Army.

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    Other retirees are  Lt. Gen. Frank Mushyo Kamanzi, currently Rwanda’s ambassador to Russia and Maj. Gen. Albert Murasira, a former defence minister.

    In June, Kagame appointed Juvenal Marizamunda as the new defence minister, succeeding Albert Murasira, who had held the role since 2018.

    In Cameroon,  President Paul Biya, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, made fresh appointments(controllers)  within the Defence Ministry’s central administrative unit.

    The new controllers are Captain Ajeagah  Félix and  Colonel Nguema   Bourger.

    Technical advisers, bureau commissariat and Air Force technical inspector were also appointed by 90-year-old President Biya who has been in power for 41 years.

    Meanwhile,   the United States and European Union (EU) have expressed concerns about the coup in Gabon.

    They called on the coupists to ensure the safety of the ousted President and his family members.

    The U.S. in a statement by its Department of State, said: “We remain strongly opposed to military seizures or unconstitutional transfers of power,” 

      “In addition, we call on all actors to show restraint and respect for human rights and to address their concerns peacefully through dialogue following the announcement of election results. We also note with concern the lack of transparency and reports of irregularities surrounding the election. The United States stands with the people of Gabon.”

    EU said in a statement by its Foreign Policy Chief, Josep Borrell, called for restraint from all parties in the Gabon crisis, 

    It said: “The challenges facing Gabon must be resolved in accordance with the principles of the rule of law, constitutional order and democracy,”

    “There are military coups and institutional coups, where you don’t need to take up arms, but if I rig an election to seize power, that is also an irregular way to do it.”

  • UN chief condemns coup in Gabon

    UN chief condemns coup in Gabon

    UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has firmly condemned the ongoing coup attempt as a means to resolve the post-electoral crisis in Gabon.

    UN Spokesperson Stephanie Dujarric disclosed this at a news conference on Wednesday at UN headquarters in New York.

    Gabonese military officers have canceled elections results and dissolved state institutions, claiming they have taken power, according to local media reports.

    The African country’s borders are closed until further notice, said the reports, adding gunfire was heard in the capital Libreville.

    The officers said that the general election was not credible, and the results were annulled.

    Prior to the incident, Gabon’s national electoral body said that President Ali Bongo Ondimba from the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party was re-elected for a third term in Saturday’s election.

    “The secretary-general is following the evolving situation in Gabon very closely.

    Read Also: US concerned about Gabon coup

    “He notes with deep concern the announcement of the election results amidst reports of serious infringements of fundamental freedoms,’’ Dujarric said.

    The spokesperson said the secretary-general reaffirmed his strong opposition to military coups.

    “The secretary-general calls on all actors involved to exercise restraint, engage in an inclusive and meaningful dialogue and ensure that the rule of law and human rights are fully respected.

    “He also calls on the national army and security forces to guarantee the physical integrity of the President of the Republic and his family.,’’ he said.

    According to him, the United Nations stands by the people of Gabon.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Cabon is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

    NAN also reports that Niger, Burkina Faso, other West African countries toppled by Military coup in last 4 years.

    Others are Chad (since April 2021) Guinea (since September 2021), Mali (since August 2020) and Sudan.

    Dujarric, while answering a question on solutions to spread of military take off in Africa countries at the press briefing, said the best way to deal with military coup is to prevent it.

    “The best way to deal with it is to invest more in preventing it from happening, by investing in strong institutions and ensuring that elections are safe.

    “Also, that people can express themselves freely and that their human rights are respected. That is the best remedy.

    “Afterwards, there is need to condemn military coup strongly,’’ he said

    in addition, he said the UN has 81 international staff and 163 national staff working in the country and  that latest information suggested that all staff and their families were safe and sound.

    “Our broader concern is really for the people of Gabon, and people of countries that have undergone military coups recently which is a clear violation of their rights.

    (NAN)

  • Angolan president to discuss Gabon coup with Congolese counterpart

    Angolan president to discuss Gabon coup with Congolese counterpart

    Angolan President Joao Lourenco would travel to the Republic of the Congo on Thursday to discuss the situation in Gabon with President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso.

    Describing the military coup in Gabon as “surprising,” Lourenco said “some instability has arisen in our brother country,” said the Angolan presidency’s Facebook page.

    Read Also: Gabon: Yet another sad day for democracy in Africa

    Earlier on Wednesday, a group of Gabonese soldiers announced a coup through local television following the announcement of the results of the general elections in the country.

    In 2022, Lourenco was honoured with the title of Champion of Peace and Reconciliation in Africa by the African Union for his efforts in seeking peace, dialogue, and stability in various countries on the African continent.

    He was especially recognised for his involvement in resolving armed conflicts in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
    (Xinhua/NAN)

  • Gabon coup result of suffocated democracy – Shehu Sani

    Gabon coup result of suffocated democracy – Shehu Sani

    A former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has said the coup in Gabon is the direct consequence of stifling democracy.

    Military officers said they had seized power in the Central African nation of Gabon early on Wednesday, overturning the results of the Saturday election that returned the incumbent, President Ali Bongo Ondimba, to a third seven-year term in office.

    The officers announced the coup on national television, dissolved all state institutions and closed all borders till further notice.

    Moments later a video of Bongo detained in his residence surfaced where he issued plea for help, calling on ‘friends of Gabon’ to ‘make noise’.

    But celebrations erupted in the streets outside, as many Gabonese cheered the military and the apparent ‘end’ of a family dynasty that has dominated for over half a century.

    Bearing his thought on the coup, Sani described the  55 years rule of the oil-rich Central African nation by the Bongo family as father-to-son dictatorship.

    Read Also: Gabon: Yet another sad day for democracy in Africa

    The 55-year-old former lawmaker tweeted: “Gabon’s father to don Dictatorship has been overthrown by military coupists. 

    “Five decades of one family rule is not a democracy. This is what happens when democracy is suffocated. It’s sad.”

    In another tweet, Sani suggested African leaders needed to have some sober reflection on her democracies.

    He added: “It’s time we stop asking why are military coups succeeding in Africa and start asking why are democracies failing in Africa.”

  • The coup d’état in Gabon 

    The coup d’état in Gabon 

    By Akinola Ayobami Steven

    Sir: The latest military coup in Gabon has again raised questions about the political stability and governance in African countries that were formerly colonized by France. This incident not only marks a significant upheaval in Gabon’s political landscape but also draws attention to a recurring pattern of military interventions in post-colonial African nations, particularly those with historical ties to French colonial rule.

    In a surprising turn of events, Gabon’s military ousted President Ali Bongo, who had secured his third term in office through an election in which he garnered 64.27 percent of the total votes. This coup effectively brought an end to 56 years of the Bongo family’s rule, starting with Ali Bongo’s father, Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon from 1967 to 2009. The military’s actions extended beyond the ousting of the president; they closed borders, dissolved government institutions, and nullified the election results, plunging Gabon into uncertainty and volatility.

    Read Also: Gabon: Yet another sad day for democracy in Africa

    To understand the prevalence of military coups in African countries with ties to French colonial history, it’s crucial to examine the enduring impact of colonization on these nations’ political, economic, and social systems. Many of these former colonies gained independence in the mid-20th century, often transitioning from autocratic colonial rule to fragile democratic governance. The legacy of colonization left behind deeply rooted challenges such as socio-economic disparities, weak institutions, and limited political participation.

    One of the factors contributing to military coups in post-colonial African nations is economic dependency. Former colonies often inherited economic systems designed to serve the interests of the colonizers, leaving them reliant on a narrow range of resources and vulnerable to global market fluctuations. Another critical factor is the weak governance structures inherited from colonial rule. The absence of inclusive institutions and effective mechanisms for power-sharing often leads to political exclusion and marginalization, driving certain factions to seek alternative routes to political power, including military takeovers.

    France’s historical relationship with its former colonies, often referred to as Francophone Africa, has also raised concerns about neo-colonialism. While these nations gained political independence, France maintained significant economic and political influence through complex post-colonial arrangements. This dynamic has led to allegations that France’s involvement, whether overt or covert, has perpetuated instability and contributed to the prevalence of military coups in these countries.

    The legacies of colonization, economic dependency, weak governance structures, and perceptions of neo-colonialism have collectively created an environment prone to political upheaval. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach that involves strengthening democratic institutions, promoting economic diversification, and redefining the relationships between these nations and their former colonizers. Only through concerted efforts can African countries break free from the cycle of military coups and achieve sustained political stability and development.

    •Akinola Ayobami Steven, Akinolaa61@gmail.com.

  • Tinubu, world leaders, UN, AU, EU reject Gabon junta

    Tinubu, world leaders, UN, AU, EU reject Gabon junta

    • Sixth African coup ‘deeply concerning’
    • What African presidents should do, by Oyebode, Keshi, Ogunsanwo

    Wednesday’s coup in Central African country Gabon drew anger from world leaders and international organisations.

    They asked the junta to return to their barracks and restore democratic order in the thinly-populated oil-rich country.

    The coup, the sixth on the African continent in six years, came after the one in Niger Republic, Nigeria’s Northern neighbour.

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is still battling to get the soldiers to respect constitutional authority and quit power.

     In Libreville, mutinous soldiers announced the take-over of political power.

    They put President Ali Bongo Ondimba under house arrest, hours after being declared winner in an election held on Saturday that would have extended his family’s 55-year reign.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu began rallying world leaders has news of the coup filtered in. He spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and some  ECOWAS leaders in his capacity as the chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government.

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    His spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said the President is ready to see to the restoration of order in Gabon.

    The coup unsettled the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), European Union (EU), United States (U.S.) and others.

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the takeover. His spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said Guterres “firmly condemns the ongoing coup attempt as a means to resolve the post-electoral crisis” and reaffirms “his strong opposition to military coups”.

    The Head of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, condemned the coup and called on security forces to peacefully return to “democratic constitutional order”.

    “He calls on the national army and the security forces to guarantee the personal safety of the president, the members of his family and those of his government,” Mahamat’s spokesperson said.

    EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said the situation in Gabon would be discussed by the bloc’s ministers this week.

    “If this is confirmed, it’s another military coup, which increases instability in the whole region,” Borrell said.

    Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland called the coup “an illegal takeover of power”.

    “The Commonwealth Charter is clear that member states must uphold the rule of law and the principles of democracy at all times and the Commonwealth Secretariat will be keenly monitoring the situation,” she said.

    The ousted president called on people loyal to him to “make noise” to support him. He spoke in a video apparently from ‘detention’ at his residence.

    But rather than heed his call, crowds took to the streets in Libreville, chanting the national anthem.

    They celebrated the putsch against a dynasty accused of getting rich on the country’s wealth while many of its citizens struggle to scrape by.

    Bongo has served two terms since coming to power in 2009 after the death of his father, who ruled the country for 41 years.

    France, Gabonese colonial master, condemned the military coup, saying it was closely monitoring developments in the country.

    It reaffirmed its wish that the outcome of the election, once known, be respected.

    French government spokesman Olivier Veran said: “France has maintained close economic, diplomatic and military ties with Gabon, and has 400 soldiers stationed in the country leading a regional military training operation.

    French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday denounced what he called an “epidemic” of coups in French-speaking Africa countries – from Mali and Burkina Faso to Guinea and Niger.

     Paris maintains a military presence in many of its former colonial territories, including Gabon, where it has 370 soldiers permanently deployed, some in the capital, Libreville, according to the French Ministry of the Armed Forces website.

    The U.S. described the development as “deeply concerning”.

    “We are going to watch this closely, and we’re going to continue to do everything we can to support the idea of democratic ideals that are expressed by the African people,” said White House national security spokesman John Kirby.

    China called on relevant parties in Gabon to restore order as soon as possible.

    It also urged them to ensure the personal safety of President Bongo, maintain national peace, stability, and overall development, according to Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry.

    In a reaction from Moscow, Russia said it received with concern reports of the sharp deterioration in the internal situation in Gabon.

     ”We continue to closely monitor the development of the situation and hope for its speedy stabilisation,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova said.

    Spain’s Acting Defence Minister Margarita Robles said at a European Union Defence Ministers’ meeting in Toledo that Spain was monitoring events in Africa’s Sahel region with great concern.

    Spain has about 140 troops stationed to the northeast of Mali’s capital, Bamako, as part of the EU’s training mission there.

    In a statement, Egyptian Foreign Ministry called on all parties “to uphold the national interest in order to preserve the security, stability and safety of the country”.

    The ministry called on Egyptians in Gabon to exercise utmost caution and avoid areas of security tension.

    “Egypt aspires to see stability returned to Gabon as soon as possible and preserve the safety of the brotherly Gabonese people,” it added. 

    THE GABON

    •Capital: Libreville

    •Official languages: French

    •Legislature  Parliament

      Upper house    – Senate

      Lower house    – National Assembly

    •Currency: Central African CFA

    •Population 2023 estimate  2.436m (146th)

    •Density: 7.9/km2 (20.5/sq mi)

    •Economy: Gabon is one of the world’s largest producers of manganese. The fifth largest producer of oil in Africa.

    •Main Features: Forest covers three-fourths of the land mass

    TIMELINE

    • Mali 2020

    On August 18, 2020, parts of the Malian Armed Forces initiated a mutiny, followed by a coup d’état.

    •Mali 2021

    Mali’s third coup d’etat was staged on May 24, 2021 when the Army, under the command of Vice President Assimi Gota, seized power

    •Guinea 2021

    The military took President Alpha Condé prisoner in a September 5, 2021 putsch. The leader of the Special Forces announced the dissolution of the government and constitution in a broadcast .

    •Sudan 2021

    Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Sudanese military staged a coup a on October 25, 2021. 

    •Burkina Faso 2022

    On January 23, 2022, the military took over power .

    • Burkina Faso 2022

    Another coup on September 30, 2022, removed Interim President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. 

    •Niger 2023

    On July 26, the Presidential Guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum. Shortly after declaring the coup a success

    •Gabon 2023

    In the early hours of yesterday,  a group of senior Gabonese soldiers appeared on national television and announced the take over of government,  minutes after the state election body announced President Ali Bongo winner of the presidential election held on Saturday.