The military in Gabon has freed the country’s former president Ali Bongo Ondimba after being under house arrest from August 30 during a coup.
Following the takeover, the military annulled the re-election of Ali Bongo and announced the takeover on national television.
“Given his state of health, the former President of the Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba is free to move about.
He may, if he wishes, travel abroad for medical checkups,” Gabon’s military spokesman Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi said in a statement.
However, the ousted leader had earlier appealed for help from the international community.
“I am sending a message to all the people in world, I am calling you to make noise” Bongo cried out.
Members of the public in Gabon welcomed the coup even though the African Union and the international community condemned the move.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland described the coup attempt “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.
How Gabon Coup started
Gabon went to the polls on Saturday, August 26, for the country’s presidential election.
On August 30, the country’s national electoral authority announced that Bongo, who had been in power for 14 years, has been re-elected for a third term with 64.27 percent of votes cast.
Albert Ondo Ossa, Bongo’s main challenger followed by far with 30.77 percent of the vote.
Soon after, a section of military appeared on state TV declaring a takeover and cancelled the election results and “putting an end to the current regime.
Also Read: Gabon Coup: Military Takes Over After Ali Bongo Re-Election
“Our beautiful country, Gabon, has always been a haven of peace. Today, the country is going through a serious institutional, political, economic and social crisis.”
“We are therefore forced to admit that the organization of the general elections of 26 August 2023 did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon.
“Added to this is irresponsible and unpredictable governance, resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion, with the risk of leading the country into chaos…People of Gabon, we are finally on the road to happiness. May God and the spirits of our ancestors bless Gabon. Honour and loyalty to our homeland,” statement by the military read in part.
Also Read: This Man Obasanjo: From Coup Convict to Africa’ s Statesman
Gabon Leadership History
Gabon is a small state in Central Africa which has been ruled by the same family for more than 55 years since its independence from France in 1960.
Its first President was Omar Bongo, who ruled for 41 years until his death.
It is one of the richest countries in Africa in terms of Gross domestic product per capita, which is due to oil revenues and the small population of 2.3 million.
However according to World Bank a third of the population in Gabon still lives below the poverty line of $5.50 per day.
Career Life
Ali Bongo has served as Gabon’s President for two terms. He took over from his late father Omar Bongo, who led the country for 41 years from 1967 to 2009.
During his father’s tenure, Ali served as the Minister of Defence.
Gabon’s military announced that Clotaire Brice Oligui Nguema will be the country’s transitional president. He is however said to be Ali Bongo’s cousin, raising questions as to whether the overthrow was a ploy to keep the family in power.
Who Is Gabon Coup Leader
Nguema is one of the most influential and vague figures in Gabon. The son of a military officer, he trained at the Royal Military Academy of Meknes, in Morocco.
In addition, he served as Bongo’s “aides-de-camp” to a commander in former President Omar Bongo’s Republican Guard, until the former Gabonese leader’s death in 2009.
When Omar Bongo’s son Ali Bongo took power in October 2009, Nguema was sent to Morocco and Senegal for diplomatic missions.
Upon his return ten years later, he took over as the head of the guard in Gabon, responsible for the presidential security.
