Gabon’s military junta appoints former opposition leader as Interim PM

A decree issued on Thursday, September 7, by General Brice Oligui Nguema named economist Raymond Ndong Sima, a former opposition leader, as the nation’s acting prime minister.

The 68-year-old served as Gabon’s prime minister under Bongo’s government for two years. He resigned in 2014 and ran for president in 2016 and again this year.

Gabon’s military leaders have also freed ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba from a one-week house arrest and granted him permission to leave the country for medical care.

The military leaders hitheird the decision on Bongo’s deteriorating health. Military officers, led by his cousin and head of Gabon’s Republican Guard removed Bongo from power on August 30 after he had ruled the Central African nation for 14 years.

“Given his state of health, the former President of the Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba is free to move about. He may, if he wishes, travel abroad for medical checkups,” the military government’s spokesman Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi said in a statement read on national television on Wednesday evening.

The statement was signed by the coup leader General Brice Oligui Nguema, who was sworn in on Monday as interim president of the transitional government.

Nguema led a group of soldiers last month who ended the Bongo dynasty that has ruled the country for 56 years.

Ali Bongo succeeded his late father Omar Bongo in 2009 after the latter had ruled the country since 1967. In 2018, Bongo suffered a stroke that kept him hidden from public view for months.

He was removed from power shortly after being declared winner of a Presidential election that was more of a sham and was void of any international observers.

After Gabon’s interim president was sworn in on Monday, the Central African Economic Community (ECCAS) suspended the country from the bloc.

Meanwhile, the block designated the president of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, as its representative to meet Nguema.

The military junta has promised to organise free and fair elections that will ensure a smooth transition to civilian rule.