Only three days after their closure, the borders of Gabon will be reopened with “immediate effect”, in order to promote the “continuity of the State”, announced on Saturday the Gabonese military putschists. This decision was taken in order to “preserve respect for the rule of law, good relations with our neighbors and all the States of the world”, justified Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi, spokesman for the Committee for the Transition. and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), in a statement read on state television.
He also underlined the “firm will” of the military to “keep” their “international commitments”. General Brice Oligui Nguema, who will be sworn in on Monday as “president of the transition”, promised Friday “more democratic” institutions and respectful of “human rights”, but without “rush”, after meetings conducted at a frenetic pace in recent days with parties, the diplomatic corps, international organizations, and donors.
The curfew maintained
General Oligui also targeted “the corruption” of the former power of Ali Bongo, whose family had ruled this small oil-rich Central African state for more than fifty-five years.
On the other hand, the authorities have not lifted the curfew which remains in force throughout the territory from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., but “travellers arriving in the Gabonese Republic or wishing to leave will be authorized to travel on presentation of their travel document,” said Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi.
The leader of the putsch, General Oligui, claimed that the dissolution of the institutions was “temporary”. Ali Bongo has been under house arrest in Libreville since the coup. Sylvia Bongo, his Franco-Gabonese wife, is also being held incommunicado, his lawyers said on Friday, announcing that they had filed a complaint in France for arbitrary detention.