Coup leaders in Gabon announce that President Ali Bongo is “retired”

Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose re-election after 14 years in power had just been announced, has been “retired”, said Wednesday the head of the Republican Guard, General Brice Oligui Nguema.

Ali Bongo, currently under house arrest, “is retired, he enjoys all his rights. He is a normal Gabonese, like everyone else,” said the putschist soldier.

“He did not have the right to serve a third term, the Constitution was flouted, the method of election itself was not good. So the army decided to turn the page, to take its responsibilities” , he argued.

Carried in triumph on Wednesday by hundreds of soldiers, according to images broadcast by state television, the head of the presidential guard refuses for the time being to consider himself the new Gabonese head of state.

“I am not yet declaring myself, I am not considering anything for the moment. It’s a debate that we are going to have with all the generals,” he said, referring to a meeting.