Gabon reopened its borders on Saturday following a military coup that led to the ousting of President Ali Bongo. The coup was orchestrated by General Brice Oligui Nguema and his officers, resulting in Bongo being placed under house arrest and Nguema assuming the role of head of state. This marks the end of the Bongo family’s 56-year reign in power. The West and Central Africa region has experienced eight military takeovers in the past three years, which has raised concerns about the erosion of democratic progress.
The international community has been urging the coup leaders to reinstate civilian government, but they have stated that they will not rush into holding elections. The opening of the land, sea, and air borders is motivated by the junta’s desire to preserve the rule of law, maintain good relations with neighboring countries and the international community, and uphold their commitments.
Ali Bongo, who succeeded his father Omar as the president of Gabon in 2009, has been criticized by opponents for the lack of equitable distribution of the country’s oil and mining wealth. The seizure of power in Gabon is part of a broader trend in the region, with coups also occurring in Guinea, Chad, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso since 2020. This series of coups has raised concerns among global powers with strategic interests in the region.
Reporting by Jyoti Narayan in Bengaluru and Cooper Inveen in Dakar, Writing by Edward McAllister, Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Angus MacSwan
Credit: The Star : News Feed
