A few hours after soldiers announced that they had overthrown Gabonese President Ali Bongo on Wednesday August 30 and annulled the result of the general elections which gave him the winner, demonstrations in support of the putschists took place across the country.
Acclaimed by hundreds of soldiers in Libreville, the capital, the head of the Republican Guard, General Brice Oligui Nguema could become the country’s new strongman. Le Monde was able to join him exclusively.
Do you consider yourself the new Gabonese head of state?
I’m not declaring myself yet, I’m not planning anything for the moment. This is a debate that we are going to have with all the generals. We’ll meet at 2 p.m. (3 p.m. Paris time). It will be about reaching a consensus. Everyone will put forward ideas and the best ones will be chosen, as well as the name of the person who will lead the transition.
Was this coup had been prepared for a long time or was it the proclamation of the results of the August 26 election, giving Ali Bongo the winner, which prompted you to act?
You know that in Gabon there is discontent and, beyond this discontent, there is the illness of the Head of State [Ali Bongo suffered a stroke in October 2018 which left him weakened ]. Everyone talks about it, but no one takes responsibility. He did not have the right to serve a third term, the Constitution was violated, the method of election itself was not good. So the army decided to turn the page, to take its responsibilities.
What will happen to Ali Bongo?
He is a Gabonese head of state. He is retired, he enjoys all his rights. He is a normal Gabonese, like everyone else.
Do you confirm that he is under house arrest at his home in Libreville?
I can’t tell you anything, you’ll find out things as you go along.
