Gabon’s military leader, Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema, has announced his desire to run for president in next month’s election.
Nguema gained power in 2023 in a coup that toppled the long-standing dominance of the Bongo family. He then promised to relinquish authority to citizens.
The country has now established a new constitution and electoral code, which critics claim were engineered to favor the junta leader’s presidential candidacy.
On Monday, Nguema informed the Gabonese people that he had decided to run in the April 12 election “after careful reflection and in response to your many appeals.”.
Speaking to supporters during a heavy downpour in the capital, Libreville, he declared his readiness to change the fortunes of the oil-rich country.
“I am a builder, and I need your courage, your strength, to build this country,” the coup leader, who had just turned 50, said.
The statement came after months of rumors about his plans to officially take the country’s top position.
On Saturday, Nguema addressed the military in a meeting that he was aware of their wish for him to run in the election and encouraged them to vote.
He informed the defense soldiers that he had heard their cries. “I listened to you and, believe me, I understood you,” completing, “I will get back to you within the next few days.”
There was conjecture that Nguema had left the army in order to run for president, but his spokesman has since rejected this.
On Monday, Nguema’s Facebook page revealed that he had to temporarily remove his military uniform while running for election.
According to the Infos CTRI official page, if he wins the election, he will have to leave the military for good. “If he’s not elected, he will return to the barracks,” he stated.
The Nguema-led junta is credited with bringing an end to the Bongo dynasty’s 55-year reign.
Ali Bongo had governed for 14 years before his overthrow. He entered power following the death of his father, President Omar Bongo, who had served for 41 years.
Last month, the president of neighboring Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, urged Gabonese citizens to support Nguema for a better future for their country.
However, several opposition and civil society groups in Gabon have been pressing the military leader to keep his word and hand over authority to civilians after the transition.
Despite Gabon’s oil wealth and extensive forests, the UN reports that one-third of the country’s 2.4 million inhabitants live below the poverty line.
