General Brice Nguema to be Sworn in as Transitional President

Brice Oligui Nguema, the next interim leader of Gabon, will take the oath of office on Monday. Nguema promised to enact more democratic institutions before free elections after a “bloodless” coup. Reopening of the land, sea, and air borders by military authority represented a return to normalcy.

The decision to reopen the borders with immediate effect was made by the CTRI, or Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions. The borders of Gabon were declared blocked till further notice by Gabonese soldiers. Moments after Bongo was declared the winner of the presidential election, Nguema launched his coup against President Ali Bongo Ondimba.

In the past three years, coups have taken place in five additional African nations, but their new leaders have rejected calls for a quick return to the barracks.