Gabon and the Economic Community of Central African States are collaborating to formulate a “roadmap” aimed at restoring democratic governance in Gabon, following a recent coup, as stated by a government official.
General Brice Oligui Nguema, who orchestrated the coup on August 30, has been sworn in as interim president, ending the Bongo family’s rule that spanned half a century.
This coup places Gabon among the list of African countries, including Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Niger, that have experienced coup attempts in the past three years.
To facilitate the creation of this roadmap, Central African Republic President Faustin Archange Touadera, representing ECCAS, engaged in discussions with Oligui in Libreville, Gabon’s capital.
On Gabonese television, Touadera emphasized, “ECCAS appointed me as a facilitator… to draft a roadmap enabling a swift return to constitutional order, with the agreement of the interim president.”
However, neither Touadera nor the government official provided specific details regarding the plan’s content or a timeline.
The coup on August 30 received support from various quarters, including the army, police, a significant portion of the political opposition, and some members of the ousted president Ali Bongo Ondimba’s party.
While Oligui vowed on Monday to organize “free, transparent, and credible elections” to restore civilian rule, no specific timeframe for this transition has been announced.
