The Nigerian government has expressed its concern about the appointment of Gabonese General Brice Oligui Nguema as the interim president of Gabon.
This move comes after General Nguema led a coup on August 30, 2023, which ended the Bongo dynasty’s 55-year rule.
In a statement from Francisca Omayuli, the spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria demanded a swift return to democracy in Gabon.
General Nguema was sworn in as the interim president on Monday, pledging to maintain a republican regime and eventually hold elections after an unspecified transition period.
However, the Nigerian government has faulted this development.
“Nigeria joins the larger international community to call for the immediate return to democratic constitutional order, which will go a long way to pacify dissident voices and restore trust and confidence to the electorate,” the statement partly read.
“Coups d’etat only serve to compound rather than address any perceived problems.
“The coup d’etat in Gabon is therefore, one coup too many in Africa and it is unacceptable at a time when Africa is aspiring to consolidate on democracy and democratic principles for the attainment of United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The Federal Government of Nigeria is committed to partnering with other democratically elected governments in Africa to sanction perpetrators of unconstitutional change of government in line with the African Charter 2 on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ADC), until democracy is given the chance to thrive in every African country for the good of its peoples.” part of the statement read
