General Brice Olingui Nguema, leader of Gabon’s powerful presidential guard, yesterday announced the “reform” of Ali Bongo and took power. Hours after the National Elections Commission confirmed the head of state’s third consecutive term, following Saturday’s election victory, the military overturned the vote and placed Ali Bongo under house arrest. In the streets, the population cheered the fall of the family that ruled the country for 55 years, but the African Union “strongly” condemned the military coup, as did France (the former colonial power).
But who is General Nguema? The first indication that he would become Gabon’s new strongman came when members of the Republican Guard (the presidential guard) lifted him in their arms, shouting “Nguema president”. The son of a former officer, Nguema joined the guard he currently heads when he was still young after being aide-de-camp to a former commander. After the death in 2009 of Omar Bongo, the father of the current head of state, he held the positions of Military Attaché at the embassies in Mali, Morocco and Senegal.
In 2018, he returned to Gabon and took over the leadership of the intelligence services of the Republican Guard. Months later, he began to lead this same force, continuing to reform it and create more members – identified by the Green Berets. According to a 2020 journalistic study by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, he will also be a millionaire. after buying several properties in the US with cash in 2015 and 2018. When faced with these cases, he defended his right to privacy.
Yesterday he was the face of the coup, even though he was not the one who read the official statement: “We, the Security and Defense Forces, have met in the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions, on behalf of the people of Gabon and as guarantees of the protection of institutions, we have decided to defend peace by ending the current regime.” The general was later confirmed as transitional president.
In statements to Le mondeNguema assured that Ali Bongo will be treated like any other Gabonese citizen who “enjoys all rights” as a “reformed” former head of state. When asked by the French newspaper whether the election had planned or precipitated the coup – Ali Bongo was declared the winner with 64% of the vote in a vote without international observers – the general claimed that the president was not entitled to a third term . . And he mentioned the stroke he suffered in October 2018, which forced him to spend ten months abroad to recover.
“You know that there is discontent in Gabon, and in addition to this discontent, there is the illness of the head of state. Everyone talks about it, but no one takes responsibility. He was not entitled to a third term, the Constitution had been violated. That is why the army decided to turn the page and assume its responsibilities.”General Nguema told the Le monde. During Ali Bongo’s recovery, in January 2019, a first coup attempt had taken place, which was resolved on the same day.
The 64-year-old president came to power in 2009 after the death of his father, who had ruled the oil-rich country since 1967 and amassed a considerable fortune over the years. Gabon had declared independence from France just seven years earlier, but with Omar in power, ties with Paris were strengthened economically, politically and militarily. A scenario that did not change with Ali.
France maintains a military presence in Gabon, with at least 370 troops deployed at all times, and this coup marks another setback for its interests in Africa. Paris yesterday condemned the military takeover, two days after President Emmanuel Macron deplored the continent’s “epidemic of coups”.
Ali Bongo, meanwhile, appeared in a video shared on social networks calling on “friends around the world” to “make noise”, revealing that he had been arrested. The president is under house arrest, but one of his sons and adviser, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, was arrested for treason, embezzlement, corruption and forging his father’s signature. Others close to Ali Bongo were also arrested.
In addition to the African Union and France, which condemned the coup, the US called the situation “deeply concerning”. The same words were used by Russia, while China called on “all parties” to ensure Ali Bongo’s safety. Portugal called for “the speedy restoration of normality and constitutional order in Gabon”.
Seven strikes in three years
Mali – 2020 and 2021
The country has experienced not just one, but two military coups in recent years. President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was overthrown on August 18, 2020, while civilian leaders staged another coup on May 24, 2021, after some soldiers were removed from key positions. Colonel Assimi Goïta promises elections in February 2024.
Guinea Conakry – 2021
President Alpha Condé was arrested on September 5, 2021. Power was in the hands of Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who promised to return it to the citizens by the end of 2024. Condé was released from house arrest in April 2022.
Sudan – 2021
Two years after a coup that toppled dictator Omar al-Bashir on April 11, 2019, tension between military leaders and civilians led the leader of the armed forces, Abdel Fattah al-Burham, to stage another coup on April 25, 2021 . Since April 15 this year, Al-Burham’s forces have been at war with former number two, paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The conflict has already resulted in the deaths of at least 5,000 people.
Burkina Faso – 2022 and 2022
Eight months separated the two blows from last year. The army led by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba arrested President Roch Marc Kaboré on January 23, 2022 (he should be allowed to return home in April). But Damiba did not stay in power for long. On September 30, Captain Ibrahim Traoré sacked him as he was appointed head of state ahead of the transition to the presidential elections scheduled for July 2024.
Niger – July 2023
Members of Mohamed Bazoum’s presidential guard, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, seized power on July 26 and detained the president. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which had already suspended Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso from the group over the coups, has approved the deployment of a rapid force to restore “constitutional order” in Niger, but efforts are still being made to restore constitutional order. found a diplomatic solution. General Tiani proposes a three-year transitional period to return power to the citizens.
Source: DN
