Gabon Coup Leaders Name, Brice Nguema Transitional President

General Brice Oligui Nguema, the ousted president’s cousin and a former commander of the Gabonese Republican Guard, the country’s most powerful security force, has been chosen by the coup organisers to serve as interim leader. The Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions’ leader, Nguema, is reputedly a cousin of ousted president Ali Bongo.

Soon after becoming power, he directed the restoration of internet services as well as the signals for international radio and television networks in Gabon. The choice of the nation’s transitional leader will be made at a conference of military generals that will begin at 14:00 GMT.

Nguema was an aide-de-camp to the expelled leader’s father, Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon for nearly 42 years until his passing in 2009. Omar Bongo attended the Royal Military Academy of Meknes in Morocco.

He stressed on preserving Gabon’s tranquilly and peace as well as the nation’s dignity and peace. To reduce the possibility of violence and the propagation of misinformation, authorities have ordered an internet shutdown as voting in presidential, parliamentary, and local elections comes to a close.

The broadcasting of French media outlets France 24, RFI, and TV5 Monde has been halted in Gabon. There will still be a nightly curfew until further notice. The former president of Gabon’s daughter, Malika Bongo Ondimba, congratulated General Nguema in a post on the social media platform X. Supporters of the coup leaders in Gabon rushed to the streets to demonstrate their support, with some expressing appreciation for the military’s actions.