Former Gabonese President Ali Bongo has broken his silence since his abrupt overthrow in the early hours of Wednesday, August 30, 2023.
A viral video has emerged in which Bongo urgently calls upon his “friends” for support amidst his family’s uncertain fate.
In a video message, President Bongo appeared visibly distressed, saying, “I’m sending a message to all our friends from around the world to raise their voices for us. I have been arrested, and my family is separated. My son is somewhere, and my wife is in another place, while I’m confined to my residence. I don’t understand what’s happening. I implore you all to make noise – make noise really.”
The background to this unprecedented situation unfolds with the announcement made by members of the Gabonese army on national television during the early hours of August 30, 2023. The televised message was delivered by a coalition of military factions, including the gendarmerie and the republican guard, who collectively asserted their actions as the “Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions” (CTRI).
The military statement cited the country’s severe political crisis and a perceived deterioration in social cohesion under President Ali Bongo’s rule as reasons for their intervention.
“Today, our country is going through a grave political crisis,” they declared. “We have observed an irresponsible, unforeseeable governance that has resulted in the steady degradation of social cohesion, which risks leading the country to chaos. We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the regime in power.”
Ali Bongo, born Alain Bernard Bongo on February 9, 1959, rose to power as Gabon’s third president in 2009, following in the footsteps of his father, the late President Omar Bongo. His presidency was reportedly marked by controversy, including his re-election in 2016, which was marred by allegations of irregularities, arrests, human rights violations, and post-election protests.
The situation in Gabon remains fluid, with international concern growing over the fate of President Bongo, his family, and the political stability of the nation.
Meanwhile, shortly after army officers appeared on national television to declare they had taken power, large crowds of people went on to the Boulevard Triomphal Omar Bongo, the main street of Gabon’s capital, Libreville according to reports.
“They were waving green, yellow and blue Gabonese flags to celebrate the military takeover” the report said.
Although they were initially mingling with soldiers and thanking them, the military then asked them to return home and move away from strategic areas.