After the parliamentary and presidential elections, the military apparently took power in Gabon. They put President Ali Bongo under house arrest – who is asking for help.
He is supposed to be the new president: the military and security forces wear Brice Oligui Nguema on their hands and cheer him on. He was previously the head of the Republican Guard and thus in the closest circle of former President Ali Bongo.
But in the morning putschists announced on Gabon’s state television that the government had been deposed. It said: “The national and international community is informed that Ali Bongo is under house arrest. He is with his family and has medical care.”
President Bongo asks for help
Shortly thereafter, the previous President also reported. A video shows him in a white armchair. He calls on his supporters for help: “I’m Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon, and I’m sending a message to all my friends around the world: get loud, get loud.”
However, among the population of Gabon, Bongo does not seem to have many supporters anymore. Hundreds of people took to the streets of the capital, Libreville, to celebrate the end of the Bongo era.
Putschists speak of impending chaos
Gabon voted at the weekend. Ali Bongo was seeking a third term. Shortly before the coup, the authorities responsible announced that he had won with almost 65 percent of the votes. But the opposition had already spoken of fraud during the election because ballot papers were missing and the government imposed a nationwide curfew before the polling stations closed.
The putschists also addressed this in their speech in the morning. They said: “We have to realize that the elections did not meet the requirements of a free vote.” In addition, the “irresponsible and unpredictable style of government” meant that there was hardly any cohesion among the population. “The country threatened to plunge into chaos,” said the putschists.
Bongo clan caused resentment
The Bongo clan had ruled Gabon for more than five decades. The oil and gas deposits made the family wealthy, while a large part of the population lives in poverty. This triggered increasing resentment, especially among young people in the country. She called for a change of power before the election.
Ali Bongo’s father, Omar, came to power with the support of France. After that, the colonial power held a protective hand over the family for a long time. The French government spokesman said developments in Gabon are now being closely monitored. France condemns the military coup in Gabon, he said. “If the results of the elections are certain, they should be respected.”
There have also been coups in other former French colonies in recent years, most recently in Niger. That is why the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell was concerned. He spoke of increasing instability in the entire region.