The new Gabon government led by General Brice Oligui Nguema has appointed Raymond Ndong Sima as interim prime minister following the country’s coup on August 30. 

Ndong Sima is a prominent opponent to ousted president Ali Bongo Ondimba and has previously served as prime minister under Bongo from 2012 to 2014 before becoming a critic and eventually challenging him in elections in 2016 and 2023

The new strongman, General Brice Oligui Nguema, sworn in as interim president on Monday, has vowed to hold “free, transparent and credible elections” to restore civilian rule. 

He has also said he would shortly announce an inclusive transitional government drawing on figures from across the political spectrum.

The coup in Gabon is the latest in a series of coups in Africa in recent years. Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Niger have all undergone coups in the last three years.