According to reports, the leader of the coup that deposed Gabon's President Ali Bongo has been officially sworn in as interim president. This event was marked by jubilant supporters who gathered for a televised ceremony, intended to portray the military as liberators addressing an oppressed society.

In the eighth coup witnessed across West and Central Africa in three years, army officers led by General Brice Oligui Nguema seized power on August 30th. This occurred shortly after the announcement of Bongo's victory in an election that the military annulled, citing its lack of credibility.

The coup garnered enthusiastic crowds on the streets of Gabon's capital, Libreville, while drawing international condemnation. The Central African regional bloc Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), for instance, announced the suspension of Gabon until a return to constitutional order is achieved.

General Nguema received a standing ovation from military officers and officials upon his arrival for the ceremony and again after taking the oath of office administered by a panel of constitutional court judges. State TV broadcasted scenes of a cheering crowd, and armoured personnel carriers fired into the sea to commemorate the moment.

During his speech, General Nguema proposed a series of reforms, including the adoption of a new constitution through a referendum, the introduction of new electoral and penal codes, and measures prioritizing local banks and companies for economic development. He also pledged to welcome back political exiles and release political prisoners. Amidst repeated interruptions by cheers, he described the coup as a moment of national liberation and a manifestation of God's will, effectively ending the 56-year rule of the Bongo family in this oil-producing nation.

"When the people are crushed by their leaders ... it's the army that gives them back their dignity," he said. "People of Gabon, today the times of happiness that our ancestors dreamt of are finally coming."

According to reports, numerous prominent figures from Bongo's government, including the vice president and prime minister, were in attendance at the ceremony. Meanwhile, President Bongo continues to be held under house arrest. He assumed office in 2009, succeeding his late father, who had held power since 1967. Critics argue that the Bongo family failed to adequately distribute Gabon's oil and mining riches among the nation's 2.3 million citizens.

Nguema reaffirmed his commitment to holding free and fair elections during his administration, although he did not specify a timetable for this process.

"After this transition ... we intend to return power to civilians by organising new elections that will be free, transparent, credible and peaceful," he said.

In earlier statements, Nguema had expressed the junta's intention to move forward "expeditiously yet prudently," highlighting the importance of ensuring that elections maintain their credibility by not rushing the process.

Following a summit conducted in neighboring Equatorial Guinea, the ECCAS bloc officially declared the suspension of Gabon and urged a prompt restoration of constitutional order.

"All threats to the peace, security and stability of any ECCAS member, such as Gabon, has repercussions for our countries and communities," said Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema in a brief address closing the summit.

Gabon's leading opposition group, Alternance 2023, claiming victory in the August 26th election, is urging the international community to pressure the junta for a return to civilian rule. While Gabon's international bonds have rebounded, they remain around 5 cents below pre-coup levels, with the 2025 bond showing the most significant gains.

Image source: Arabic News