Gabon’s borders are reopening after last week’s coup. This was announced by the soldiers who have seized power in the oil-rich country in West Africa. Their spokesperson said on television that the “land, sea and air borders will be reopened with immediate effect.”
The military locked down the country last Wednesday. They staged a coup after the controversial re-election of President Ali Bongo. His family was in charge in Gabon for more than half a century. Bongo himself first took office as president in 2009. He then succeeded his late father Omar Bongo as head of state.
The junta wants to appoint an interim president next Monday. General Brice Oligui Nguema is then sworn in and will govern the country. He previously headed the elite unit tasked with protecting Bongo. The soldier has announced that he wants to make his country more democratic.
Demonstrations
There is great international concern about the succession of military coups in western Africa. In recent years, the military has also seized power in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger. In the latter country, thousands of people took to the streets in the capital Niamey on Saturday to demand the departure of the French troops still stationed there.
Niger and Gabon are former French colonies that had close ties with Paris. The presidential guard took power in both countries this summer, putting pressure on relations. Protesters in Niamey gathered outside a base with French troops. They had brought banners with texts such as “French army leave our country”.
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