Gabonese coup leaders named a general transitional president on Wednesday after seizing power after disputed elections in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family has ruled for 55 years, was declared the winner.
The alleged takeover sparked condemnation from the African Union and concern from Nigeria about “contagious autocracy” on a continent where military forces have seized power in five other countries since 2020.
According to the coup leaders, Bongo, 64, who took over from his father Omar in 2009, was placed under house arrest, and one of his sons was arrested for treason.
Images showed General Brice Oligui Nguema of the Republican Guard being triumphantly carried by hundreds of soldiers, to cries of “Oligui president!”
In a later TV statement, the coup leaders described Oligui Nguema as the “transitional president.”
In a speech delivered before dawn, a group of officers announced that “all the institutions of the republic” had been dissolved, the election results had been thrown out, and the borders had been closed.
A statement read on state television claimed that “the country is experiencing a serious institutional, political, economic, and social crisis.”
The officer reading it was surrounded by a dozen army colonels, elite Republican Guard soldiers, regular soldiers, and others.
The elections “did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible, and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon,” according to the statement.
“Additionally, irresponsible and unpredictable governance has resulted in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion, with the risk of bringing the country to its knees.”
“We, the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime on behalf of the people of Gabon and as guarantors of the institutions’ protection,” it said.
Bongo on House Arrest, Sons Detained
Bongo’s son and close adviser Noureddin Bongo Valentin, his chief of staff Ian Ghislain Ngoulou, his deputy, two other presidential advisers, and the two top officials in the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party “have been arrested”, a military leader said.
He claims they are accused of treason, embezzlement, corruption, and forging the president’s signature, among other things.
A worried-looking Bongo, in a video from an unidentified location, appealed to “all friends that we have all over the world… to make noise” on his behalf.
“My son is somewhere, my wife is somewhere else, and I am here at home, and nothing is happening.” I am not sure what is going on.”
On the streets of the capital, and the economic hub of Port-Gentil, groups of joyous people were seen celebrating.
In Libreville, around 100 people shouted “Bongo out!” and applauded police in anti-riot gear.
