UPDATE: BONGO CRITIC NAMED INTERIM PM IN POST-COUP GABON
Following the military takeover of Gabon on August 30, Raymond Ndong Sima was named interim prime minister on Thursday. Sima was a well-known opponent of ousted president Ali Bongo Ondimba.
The 68-year-old economist Ndong Sima, who held the position of prime minister under Bongo from 2012 to 2014, later turned against Bongo and ran against him in the elections of 2016 and 2023.
General Brice Oligui Nguema, the new strongman who was sworn in as interim president on Monday after the coup, formalised his appointment via a decree.
Although he did not specify a timeline, Oligui promised to arrange “free, transparent, and credible elections” in order to restore civilian government.
He added that he will soon unveil a transitional administration that will include representatives from both sides of the political aisle.
After the passing of his father, Omar, a kleptocrat who ruled the central African state with an iron fist for more than 40 years, Bongo, 64, assumed power.
He was narrowly re-elected in 2016, according to the hotly contested official results, but two years later he had a stroke that made him less able to hold onto power.
Four days after being declared the winner of a presidential election, Bongo, his wife, and son were arrested on August 30 by soldiers under the command of the elite Republic Guard commander Oligui.
Gabon’s post-coup developments are closely watched throughout central Africa and elsewhere.
The oil-rich nation is one of several African nations that have had coups in the past three years, joining Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
More Stories
TRAFFIC REGULATIONS ENFORCEMENT: LASG IMPOUNDS 56 VEHICLES OVER VIOLATIONS
The enforcement unit of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation has impounded 56 vehicles for violating traffic rules. This was...
BORNO GOVT GIVES UPDATE ON DONATIONS FOR VICTIMS OF RECENT FLOOD IN MAIDUGURI
The Borno State government has given an update on the pledges and actual donations from corporate entities, state governments, state...
JUST IN: EFCC MAKES ATTEMPT TO ARREST YAHAYA BELLO AT KOGI GOVERNOR’S LODGE ABUJA
Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are presently making an attempt to arrest former governor of Kogi...
NECO SET TO RELEASE Y2024 SSCE INTERNAL RESULTS TOMORROW
The National Examinations Council (NECO), has said the results of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination internal will be released...
OUTSTANDING SALARIES: NASU, SSANU ISSUE THREE-WEEK ULTIMATUM, THREATEN INDEFINITE STRIKE
The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities...
MAKINDE DECLARES SUPPORT FOR EDO PDP GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE, IGHODALO
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday declared support for the Edo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo...