Fears of 'palace coup' in Gabon: Opposition 'completely sidelined' as Gabonese 'euphoria' wanes
Gabon's new strongman General Brice Oligui Nguema on Friday vowed the country's institutions would be more democratic, two days after heading a coup that ended 55 years of rule by the Bongo family. But the new leader insisted on not rushing into elections that "repeat past mistakes", as pressure mounted on the junta to hand back power to a civilian government. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on the unfolding military takeover and the ensuing reactions in Gabon and across the globe, FRANCE 24's François Picard is joined by Leonard Mbulle-Nziege, Writer, Political Analyst and Doctoral Researcher with the Institute of Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa (IDCPPA) at the University of Cape Town.
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Gabon’s new strongman General Brice Oligui Nguema on Friday vowed the country’s institutions would be more democratic, two days after heading a coup that ended 55 years of rule by the Bongo family. But the new leader insisted on not rushing into elections that “repeat past mistakes”, as pressure mounted on the junta to hand back power to a civilian government. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on the unfolding military takeover and the ensuing reactions in Gabon and across the globe, FRANCE 24’s François Picard is joined by Leonard Mbulle-Nziege, Writer, Political Analyst and Doctoral Researcher with the Institute of Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa (IDCPPA) at the University of Cape Town.
🔔 Subscribe to France 24 now: https://f24.my/YTen
🔴 LIVE – Watch FRANCE 24 English 24/7 here: https://f24.my/YTliveEN
🌍 Read the latest International News and Top Stories: https://www.france24.com/en/
Like us on Facebook: https://f24.my/FBen
Follow us on X (Twitter): https://f24.my/Xen
Browse the news in pictures on Instagram: https://f24.my/IGen
Discover our TikTok videos: https://f24.my/TKen
Get the latest top stories on Telegram: https://f24.my/TGen
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Any African that grow in the village understand what is going on in Gabon. It is relative in the royal family overthrowing the current king and grabbing the throne. The only difference here is that in the villages, the new kind would execute the kids of the deposed king otherwise they can stage a coup and dethrone them again. It happens every day in Africa and we are very used to it. Ignorant kids are blaming FRANCE because of their low IQ and lack of understanding of the complex tribal play in Africa. Niger coup is also a tribal coup to remove another tribe and grab power.
Its no coup . its the same family. France is laughing all the way to the bank
In my country Guinea-Bissau, Bongo is slang we use to tell someone police is coming to beat you, we just say Bongo is coming!
Nothing will change. They will always dance to the french tone.
Pascaline has nothing to do with this coup. We haven't seen her for years and rumors says she is ill. At the end of the day, Oligui took power, not Pascaline. A lot of false and inaccurate news here. Get in touch with the opposition in Gabon, the civil society and they can tell you what is going on.
Gabon😅 is a monarchy😂!
The president of the constitutional court is Ali Bongo's stepmother!
It would be hilarious if it was not so tragic..
In my country, Kenya ,we are not perfect..but this situation would never be tolerated…Our opposition is very robust and is tries to keep the govt in check and prevent excesses…
Maybe a reason why coups are not rampant here….the citizens have a voice and can vent…
From the frying pan into the fire. Gabon's fight is a big one because they must oust this family if they will ever prosper.
Cameroon, Togo, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast is next.
Restore commitments or coups reevaluate commitments? Rules often change with coups with surprise.
It's an inside job 💯%
You know that sounds about right….
“WE ARE THE MILITARY AND WE HAVE TAKEN POWER we are going to bring democracy”
Also military; “well there’s so need to rush into elections we’ll just stay in charge until further notice.
The junta of gabon has everything under control and did this western spin doctor just say center for democract as if that system works when it really is a oligarchy .we don't answer to Europe and there failed institutions and osama bin laden broke your myth of invincibility.
My take, the Bongo family fears that post election protests will dog the nation threatening their business interests, in other words Ali has become a liability and they would go through the motions of transition but set the stage for another Bongo preferably the sis mentioned above.
Very good analysis from the south african expert
Gosh. Who'd have believed a military coup might have ulterior motives that aren't anything to do with helping ordinary people or the country as a whole?!
I'm shocked. SHOCKED, I say. 🤣
U said it all my brother
I wonder why the whole country is not called Bongo
Ooh ooh ooh the funky Gabon!
Nothing complicated . Planting your seed of doom as always. You have strike and protest . What's your take on that .
Jehovah and Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior; God bless France.
This is really a family affair running this country. Therefore, Gabon is far from being cleansed from the Bongo family. This is quite complicated 🙃🙃