Gabonese Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema, who led a coup to overthrow President Ali Bongo final month, was sworn in as interim president on Monday.
He was cheered on by jubilant supporters in a televised ceremony designed to forged the army as liberators of an oppressed society.
In West and Central Africa’s eighth coup in three years, military officers led by Gen. Nguema seized energy on Aug. 30, minutes after an announcement that Bongo had received an election they annulled and mentioned was not credible.
Nguema was given a standing ovation by army officers and officers as he arrived for the ceremony, and once more simply after he was sworn in by a panel of constitutional court docket judges.
State TV confirmed photos of a cheering crowd and armored personnel carriers firing into the ocean to mark the second.
In a speech, Nguema proposed reforms together with a brand new structure to be adopted by referendum, new electoral and penal codes, and measures to prioritize native banks and corporations for financial improvement. He additionally mentioned political exiles can be welcomed again and political prisoners freed.
Repeatedly interrupted by cheers, he described the coup, which ended the Bongo household’s 56-year maintain on energy within the oil-producing nation, as a second of nationwide liberation and a manifestation of God’s will.
“When the people are crushed by their leaders … it’s the army that gives them back their dignity,” he mentioned. “People of Gabon, today the times of happiness that our ancestors dreamt of are finally coming.”
Several figures from Bongo’s authorities, together with the vice chairman and prime minister, attended the ceremony.
Bongo himself stays beneath home arrest. He was elected in 2009, taking on from his late father who got here to energy in 1967. Opponents say the household did too little to share Gabon’s oil and mining wealth with the nation’s 2.3 million folks.
Democracy pledge
Nguema reiterated that his administration would manage free and honest elections, although he gave no timetable.
“After this transition … we intend to return power to civilians by organizing new elections that will be free, transparent, credible and peaceful,” he mentioned.
Previously, Nguema had mentioned the junta would proceed “quickly but surely,” however cautioned that an excessive amount of haste might result in elections that lack credibility.
The coup had drawn cheering crowds onto the streets of the capital Libreville however condemnation from overseas.
Leaders of the Central African regional bloc ECCAS are attributable to meet in particular person Monday to debate their response. Last week they urged companions led by the United Nations and the African Union to help a speedy return to constitutional order.
Gabon’s most important opposition group, Alternance 2023, which says it’s the rightful winner of the Aug. 26 election, has referred to as on the worldwide neighborhood to encourage the junta at hand energy again to civilians.
Members of Alternance 2023 met Nguema on Sunday for talks, a supply within the alliance advised Reuters, with out sharing additional particulars.
Gabon’s worldwide bonds continued to claw again floor after their sharp tumble final Wednesday. The 2025 bond recorded the most important positive factors, up 1.8 cents within the greenback in accordance with Tradeweb information.
However, the bonds that are buying and selling between 91.3 cents from 2024 maturities and 74 cents for points coming due in 2031, are nonetheless down round 5 cents from their pre-coup ranges.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
