LIBREVILLE — Military officers in oil-producing Gabon stated that they had seized energy on Wednesday and had put President Ali Bongo underneath home arrest, stepping in minutes after the Central African state’s election physique introduced he had received a 3rd time period.
The officers who stated they represented the armed forces declared on tv that the election outcomes have been canceled, borders have been closed and state establishments have been dissolved, after a tense vote that was set to increase the Bongo household’s greater than half century in energy.
One of the officers, Brice Oligui Nguema, who in a video seemed to be hailed as their chief, advised French newspaper Le Monde that he and different generals would meet on Wednesday to pick out somebody to move the transitional authorities.
Hundreds of individuals on the streets of the Gabonese capital celebrated the navy’s intervention, whereas France, Gabon’s former colonial ruler which has troops stationed within the African nation, condemned the coup.
If profitable, the Gabon coup can be the eighth in West and Central Africa since 2020. The newest one, in Niger, was in July. Military officers have additionally seized energy in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Chad, erasing democratic positive factors because the Nineties.
“I am marching today because I am joyful. After almost 60 years, the Bongos are out of power,” stated Jules Lebigui, a jobless 27-year-old who joined crowds in Libreville.
The officers stated that they had detained Bongo, who took over in 2009 from his father Omar, who had dominated since 1967. They additionally stated that they had arrested the president’s son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, and others for corruption and treason.
Opponents say the household has carried out little to share the state’s oil and mining wealth with its 2.3 million folks. Violent unrest had damaged out after Bongo’s disputed 2016 election win and there was a foiled coup try in 2019.
The Gabon officers, calling themselves The Committee of Transition and the Restoration of Institutions, stated the nation confronted “a severe institutional, political, economic, and social crisis.” They stated the Aug. 26 vote was not credible.
Republican Guard chief Nguema advised Le Monde a pacesetter had not been chosen however a gathering can be held on Wednesday to determine.
“Everyone will put forward ideas and the best ones will be chosen, as well as the name of the person who will lead the transition,” he stated.
Television photographs confirmed a person who seemed to be Nguema held aloft by troopers shouting “Oligui president,” utilizing one in every of his names.
There was no speedy remark from Gabon’s authorities.
French condemnation
Bongo, 64, was final seen in public casting his vote on Saturday. Before the vote, he had been seen trying more healthy than his extra frail tv appearances after his 2018 stroke.
“We condemn the military coup and recall our commitment to free and transparent elections,” French authorities spokesman Olivier Veran stated.
The coup creates extra uncertainty for France’s presence within the area. France has about 350 troops in Gabon. Its forces have been kicked out of Mali and Burkina Faso after coups there within the final two years.
Unlike Niger and different Sahel international locations, Gabon, which lies additional south on the Atlantic coast, has not needed to battle destabilizing Islamist insurgencies. But the coup is an extra signal of democratic backsliding within the unstable area.
The African Union’s Peace and Security Council chair known as for a gathering on scenario with Burundi, Senegal and Cameroon,
China known as for a peaceable decision and Russia stated it hoped for a swift return to stability.
“With the coup leaders claiming to represent all factions of Gabon’s security apparatus, Mr. Bongo is not expected to be able to suppress the uprising,” wrote Rukmini Sanyal, an analyst at Economist Intelligence Unit, citing “widespread public discontent” towards Bongo, his household and his ruling get together.
Gabon produces about 200,000 barrels of oil a day, primarily from depleting fields. International corporations embrace France’s TotalEnergies and Anglo-French producer Perenco.
French miner Eramet, which has giant manganese operations in Gabon, stated it had halted operations.
An absence of worldwide observers, the suspension of some overseas broadcasts and a choice to chop web service and impose a night-time curfew after Saturday’s election had raised issues in regards to the vote’s transparency. Bongo’s workforce rejected allegations of fraud.
On Wednesday, web entry seemed to be restored for the primary time because the vote.
Shortly earlier than the coup announcement, the election authority had declared Bongo the election winner with 64.27% of the vote and stated his fundamental challenger, Albert Ondo Ossa, had secured 30.77%.
Gabon’s dollar-denominated bonds fell as a lot as 14 cents on Wednesday earlier than recovering round 2 cents of the losses. — Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
