The Federal Government of Nigeria requested an urgent restoration of democracy in Gabon on Monday and criticised the installation of Gabonese General Brice Oligui Nguema as the country’s interim leader.
Francisca Omayuli, a spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated in a statement that the installation of Nguema “serves only to fan the embers of growing discontent among the political class in the country” because there is “no indication of a transition programme in place.”
“Nigeria, therefore, joins the larger international community to call for the immediate return to democratic constitutional order, which will go a long way to pacify dissident voices and restore trust and confidence to the electorate,” the statement partly read.
“Coups d’etat only serve to compound rather than address any perceived problems.
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“The coup d’etat in Gabon is therefore, one coup too many in Africa and it is unacceptable at a time when Africa is aspiring to consolidate on democracy and democratic principles for the attainment of United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The Federal Government of Nigeria is committed to partnering with other democratically elected governments in Africa to sanction perpetrators of unconstitutional change of government in line with the African Charter 2 on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ADC), until democracy is given the chance to thrive in every African country for the good of its peoples.”
On August 30, 2023, Nguema led a coup that overthrew the Bongo dynasty, ending 55 years of rule. The coup leader was subsequently sworn in as interim president on Monday and promised to hold elections after an unspecified transition period: “I swear before God and the Gabonese people to faithfully preserve the Constitution of the Republic of Gabon,” General Brice Oligui Nguema stated.
