Gabon has taken a significant step towards normalcy by reopening its borders just three days after enduring a military coup that shook the nation. The announcement came from an army spokesperson and marks a crucial development in the aftermath of the coup, during which President Ali Bongo was ousted.
General Brice Nguema, leading a group of military officers, orchestrated the coup, placing President Bongo under house arrest and declaring himself as the new head of state. This dramatic shift in leadership brought an end to the Bongo family’s 56-year-long reign in Gabon.
The coup in Gabon, the eighth of its kind in West and Central Africa in just three years, has sparked concerns about a troubling trend of military takeovers in the region, effectively erasing the democratic progress achieved over the past two decades.
International pressure has been mounting on the coup leaders to restore civilian governance. However, in a recent statement, they indicated that they wouldn’t rush into organizing elections.
The decision to reopen the land, sea, and air borders signifies the junta’s desire to uphold the rule of law, maintain positive relations with neighboring countries, and honor its international commitments, as conveyed by the army spokesperson on national television.
President Ali Bongo had been in power since 2009, succeeding his late father, Omar, who had ruled since 1967. Critics argue that the Bongo family did little to distribute Gabon’s wealth from oil and mining resources among its citizens.
The military takeover in Gabon follows similar coups in Guinea, Chad, and Niger, as well as multiple instances in Mali and Burkina Faso since 2020. These developments have raised concerns among international powers, particularly those with strategic interests in the region.