The newly-installed leader of Gabon, Brice Oligui Nguema has suggested that the coup he masterminded was inspired by former Jerry John Rawlings’s heroism in the political annals of Ghana.
Thus, he made a quote attributed to him during his inauguration speech. On Monday, September 4, 2023, General Oligui Nguema, leader of the Gabonese military junta, was officially inaugurated in the capital city of Libreville.
The ceremony occurred less than a week after the former head of the Republican Guard orchestrated the removal of President Ali Bongo Ondimba from power. During his inauguration, General Nguema took an oath of office and delivered an inaugural speech in which he provided a justification for the coup and pledged to restore civilian rule through democratic elections.
However, he did not provide any specific dates or timelines for this transition. In his address, General Nguema referenced a quote by JJ Rawlings to explain why the military had to intervene and assume political authority on August 30. Prior to this, he paid tribute to Gabonese pro-democracy activists who had lost their lives in the pursuit of their beliefs.
The junta leader stated: “As former Ghanaian President Jerry John Rawlings said, ‘When the people are crushed by their leaders, with the complicity of the judges, it is up to the army to give them their freedom’.”
He continued: “It is with this spirit that on August 30, 2023, like a meteorite in the dark night, the Defense and Security Forces of our country took their responsibilities by refusing the electoral coup which had just been announced by the Gabonese Elections Center following an outrageously biased electoral process.”
The National Palace event was graced by the presence of the security chief, former government ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, and other prominent stakeholders.
While the inauguration was ongoing, leaders of the sub-regional political bloc convened in Equatorial Guinea. Following the extraordinary heads of state summit, Gabon was suspended from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). The bloc denounced the coup and promptly relocated its headquarters from the Gabonese capital to Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea.
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