On the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, a series of events shook Gabon, a country located in the central region of Africa. Eleven military personnel wearing camouflage uniforms and a twelfth individual in civilian clothes appeared on the screens of the national television, Gabon 24. Shortly after the release of the provisional results of the presidential elections (where the Gabonese Elections Center announced Ali Bongo Ondimba as the winner with 64,271 TP3T of votes), this group announced the “end of the current regime”. Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi of the Army Support and Support Command Regiment declared that the “26 August 2023 general elections, as well as the manipulated results, are now cancelled. Additionally, borders will remain closed until further notice.”
The city of Libreville, capital of Gabon, saw the presence of paratroopers who were quickly mobilized after the announcement. Colonel Manfoumbi was accompanied by Aimé-Vivian Oyini, chief of staff of the Republican Guard, commanded by General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who has not yet made any public statement. The Gabon 24 studios, located in the basement of the Palácio à Beira-Mar, headquarters of the presidency, were the stage for this announcement that shook the nation. Paratrooper units, identifiable by their distinctive red caps, mobilized in Libreville, where spontaneous demonstrations took place in support of the coup attempt.
Inside the presidential palace, elements of the Republican Guard wore their characteristic green caps to celebrate the events. Near the barracks, slogans like “Oligui, president!” echoed, hinting at a possible connection between General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and the CTRI movement, the group that announced the coup. A statement on national radio and television is expected soon. Social networks and the internet, previously limited, are now gradually beginning to be restored.
Recent developments have also brought uncertainty regarding President Ali Bongo Ondimba. Rumors about his departure from the country were contradicted by Colonel Manfoumbi, who announced that the president was under house arrest, surrounded by his doctors and family. Members of his family, including his son, Noureddin Bongo-Valentin, and other figures linked to him, such as spokesperson and special adviser Jessye Ella Ekogha, face arrests. The charges include treason against state institutions, international financial misconduct, forged signatures and drug trafficking. The CTRI has stated that a full investigation will be conducted.
Furthermore, other personalities holding key positions in the government were also placed under house arrest, such as Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo, president of the Constitutional Court, and Michel Stéphane Bonda, head of the Gabonese Elections Center. These arrests caused turmoil in the country's politics. Meanwhile, the president's sister, Pascaline Bongo Ondimba, reportedly left the country overnight on Tuesday.
The opposition, to date, remains silent on the events in Libreville. Albert Ondo Ossa, Ali Bongo Ondimba's main opponent in the presidential elections, made no public comments but said he was closely monitoring the situation. The opposition platform Alternância 2023 denied any involvement in the coup, reaffirming that its candidate was democratically elected and that power must be returned to the people.
At a time of political turmoil in Africa, the nation of Gabon faces a scenario of uncertainty. The next few days could bring crucial revelations about the outcome of these events and their impacts on the country and the region.
