Gabon’s newly emerged leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema, is set to take the oath as the “transitional president” on Monday, an announcement made by coup leaders. The plan involves gradually introducing transitional institutions, according to Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi, spokesperson for the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), who shared this update on state TV. This development follows the recent overthrow of President Ali Bongo Ondimba by rebel officers.
The specifics regarding the duration of these transitional institutions remain undisclosed. Notably, all key officials within the government have been directed to ensure the swift resumption of work and the uninterrupted functioning of public services, as stated by the CTRI spokesperson.
The army chiefs have pledged that Gabon will uphold its commitments both domestically and internationally. General Brice Oligui Nguema conveyed his assurance to donors, development partners, and state creditors that measures would be taken to honor the nation’s obligations.
In a rather amusing turn of events, the main opposition in Gabon has called on the military leaders responsible for toppling President Ali Bongo Ondimba to finalize the vote count from the recent elections. The Alternance 2023 coalition, representing the opposition, has also extended an invitation to the security forces to engage in discussions aimed at resolving the situation in a patriotic and responsible manner.
Mike Jocktane, the spokesman for the coalition, emphasized that security forces were present at every polling station during the elections, making them the primary witnesses to opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa’s claimed victory.
Interestingly, the military coup announcement occurred shortly after the national election overseer proclaimed President Bongo’s third-term win with 64.27% of the vote. In contrast, Ondo Ossa secured 30.77%. Prior to this declaration, Ondo Ossa had accused Bongo of fraud and demanded a peaceful transfer of power.
Mike Jocktane expressed gratitude to the army for resisting what he referred to as an “electoral coup d’état,” preventing loss of life. He extended an invitation for the military to oversee the process of collating results from the presidential vote, which he believed would validate Ondo Ossa’s triumph.
The events in Gabon raise questions about the role of the military in such situations, highlighting the ongoing challenge of ensuring a smooth transition of power.
As the saying goes, “the fear of a military coup is the beginning of wisdom for every democratic government.” Recent changes in military leadership have been witnessed in Rwanda, where 12 generals were retired by the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF), and in Cameroon, where adjustments were made to the Ministry of Defence.
RDF’s statement indicated that President Paul Kagame retired a significant number of military personnel, including 12 generals, while also promoting and appointing new officers to fill the vacancies.
In Cameroon, President Paul Biya, who has held power since 1982, announced a reshuffling within the defence ministry. Biya’s long-standing presidency has been marked by both elections and criticism of human rights violations.
As these developments unfold, it is clear that complex situations are emerging, and the decisions made by these countries’ leaders will determine their paths forward.
