The Gabonese soldiers leaders on Wednesday, following a successful coup in the country, named Republican Guard chief General Brice Oligui Nguema transitional president, according to a TV statement, after the military seized control in the wake of elections.
“General Oligui Nguema Brice was unanimously appointed chairman of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions, chairman of the transition,” declared an officer in the presence of dozens of senior officers, according to the press release read out on Gabon 24.
Meanwhile, the ousted Gabon’s President Ali Bongo has appeared in a video appealing to his “friends” to “make noise” after military officers in the oil-rich central African state staged a coup.
“I’m sending a message to all friends that we have all over the world to tell them to make noise for… the people here who arrested me and my family,” he said in English, in the clip posted on social media.
Bongo, 64, whose family has ruled Gabon for over 55 years, was placed was on Wednesday, under house arrest and one of his sons arrested for treason, the coup leaders said.
Bongo, who was recorded while seated but looked clearly worried, said his son was in one location while his wife was “in another place”.
“I’m at the residence and nothing is happening, I don’t know what’s going on, I’m calling (on) you to make noise,” he said.
AFP was not able to determine where or when the video was captured.