gabon overthrown President Ali Bongo he has asked his friends around the world to “make noise” about his arrest by Gabonese soldiers.
Bongo, who won a disputed re-election over the weekend, was ousted in a coup on Wednesday and detained by soldiers announcing a transitional leader.
In a video seen by Newslodge on the X social media platform, Mr. Bongo is seen sitting in a room full of books. “…the people here have arrested me and my family. My son is somewhere and my wife is somewhere else,” he said.
He said he was being held at his residence and did not know what was going on. The soldiers announced that Mr. Bongo had been placed under house arrest.
A few hours later, General Brice Nguema, leader of the Gabonese Republican Guard, was named leader of the transition. He was in charge of the president’s security.
A spokesperson for the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) stated that Nguema had been designated “unanimously” as “president of the transition.”
Nguema is believed to be related to the ousted president. He is one of the most influential figures in the country. His father was also a military officer.
Nguema joined the army at a very young age and trained at the Royal Military Academy of Meknes in Morocco. His military skills were noted by members of former Gabonese President Omar Bongo’s Republican Guard.
He served as Major Bongo’s “adecampe” or military aide until Ali Bongo came to power in October 2009, when Bongo was sent to Morocco and Senegal for diplomatic missions, but returned to Gabon in 2018. A year later, he took over. the position of head of the guard.
Senior Gabonese soldiers announced Wednesday morning that they had taken over the government following Saturday’s elections that were deemed not credible.
The winner in the elections was Mr. Bongo, Gabon’s president for more than 18 years, who was set to take up a third term. The Bongos have held that position since 1967, when the older Bongo was president and, after his death in 2009, his son took over.
“In the name of the Gabonese people… we have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime,” the soldiers said upon taking power.
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Many Gabonese, as seen in various videos shared on social media, appear to support the coup or the overthrow of the president.
Bongo had cut off the Internet on the Saturday after the elections, but upon taking power, the soldiers undid that action. However, they said there would be a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., but people would be able to move freely during Thursday.
“The transitional president insists on the need to maintain calm and serenity in our beautiful country… At the dawn of a new era, we will guarantee peace, stability and dignity in our beloved Gabon,” said Ulrich Manfoumbi , lieutenant colonel. he said on state television.