The leader of the military coup in Gabon took the presidential oath

The leader of the military coup in Gabon, General Bryce Olighy Ngema, declared himself the official head of state on Monday. He took the presidential oath in the capital of the country, Libreville. The Constitutional Court of Gabon took the oath.

Ngema said that his position will be retained for a transitional period until it becomes possible to form a civil government through elections in the country. He did not name the date of the new elections.

In his speech, Ngema emphasized that he intends to change the current constitution of Gabon through a referendum, adopt new criminal and electoral codes, and give preferences to local banks and companies in order to promote the economic development of the country. He also promised to release political prisoners and create conditions for the return of political emigrants to Gabon.

A group of high-ranking military personnel in Gabon began a mutiny after it became known that the current president, Ali Bongo Ondimba, had been re-elected for a third term. On August 30, they announced the seizure of power. The military said that the election results were annulled, and the president was under house arrest.

• Ali Bongo Ondimba has held the post of president since 2009. He headed Gabon after the death of his father, Omar, who had been in power since 1967. In total, the Bongo clan held the highest positions in Gabon for 56 years – from the moment the country’s independence was declared.
• In January 2019, a group of military men tried to overthrow President Ali Bongo, but the authorities were able to suppress the putsch.