DAKAR, Senegal —Gabon is witnessing a change in leadership as military forces have removed President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family has ruled for over 50 years.
The new leader, Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, has taken charge following allegations of irregularities in the recent presidential election. The soldiers accused Bongo of mismanagement and have detained him along with cabinet members.
Despite genuine concerns about the election, experts believe the military's actions are more about seizing power than addressing these issues.
According to Joseph Siegle, the director of research at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, the timing and swift execution of the coup in Gabon, which occurred after dubious election results, suggest a premeditated plan.
While concerns about the election and President Bongo's governance are valid, experts view these grievances as a distraction from the coup's true motivations.
This marks the eighth military takeover in Central and West Africa within three years and comes shortly after Niger experienced a similar situation. Unlike countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, which have witnessed multiple coups and extremist violence, Gabon was previously considered relatively stable.
Despite its stability, the Bongo family has faced allegations of widespread corruption and an unequal distribution of the country's oil wealth among its population of around 2 million.
President Bongo, 64, assumed power in 2009 after his father's 41-year rule and has served two terms. His leadership has faced significant public discontent.
In 2019, another faction of mutinous soldiers attempted a coup, but their efforts were swiftly subdued.
Gabon, a former French colony and an OPEC member, suffers from an unequal distribution of its oil wealth, leaving a majority of its population without adequate opportunities. The World Bank reported that nearly 40% of Gabonese individuals aged 15 to 24 were unemployed in 2020. In 2022, the country's oil export revenue reached $6 billion.
The coup in Gabon, which saw the removal of a long-standing dynastic leader like Bongo, has resonated strongly across the continent, unlike previous coups in more remote and volatile West Africa. This development prompted responses from leaders in neighboring countries.
Cameroon's President Paul Biya, in power for four decades, rearranged his military leadership, while Rwandan President Paul Kagame accepted the resignation of high-ranking military officials. Djibouti's Ismail Omar Guelleh, who has governed the small former French colony since 1999, criticized the coup in Gabon and condemned the growing trend of military takeovers.
Despite these reactions, the White House National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, cautioned against prematurely labeling the Gabonese coup as a trend, indicating it was too early to ascertain a consistent pattern or domino effect.
Following Bongo's removal, the streets of Gabon's capital, Libreville, have been filled with jubilant crowds celebrating alongside the military forces.
John Nze, a resident, expressed his happiness, stating that the nation's previous circumstances had been a hindrance to everyone. The lack of employment opportunities and the challenges faced during the Bongo regime had taken a toll.
The collective joy exhibited by the Gabonese people signifies their relief from the hardships they endured under the Bongo leadership.