Portrait of General Brice Oligui Nguema: a strong man in Gabon
Since the coup d’état of August 30, General Brice Oligui Nguema has become the president of the transition in Gabon. At the age of 48, this former leader of the Republican Guard took an oath before the Constitutional Court to assume this function. Its mission: return power to civilians through free and transparent elections.
General Brice Oligui Nguema was already a powerful man before the coup. Trained at the Royal Military Academy of Meknes in Morocco, he quickly rose through the ranks of the army. He was aide-de-camp to Omar Bongo, Ali Bongo’s father and predecessor, until his death in 2009.
After being exiled to Morocco then to Senegal by Ali Bongo, General Oligui Nguema returned to Gabon following the president’s stroke in 2018. He then resumed his military career and became the leader of the Republican Guard, responsible for the protection of Ali Bongo.
His takeover during the coup raised questions about his real role in this attempted overthrow. Images broadcast on Gabonese television showed a man in fatigues and a green beret, carried in triumph by soldiers chanting “Oligui, president”, suggesting that he was the leader of the putschists.
In an interview with the newspaper Le Monde, Brice Oligui Nguema affirmed that he had not been appointed head of Gabon, but that the generals had to meet to designate the one who would lead the transition. He also highlighted the reasons that led to the takeover, citing the violation of the Constitution and the contestation of Ali Bongo’s method of election.
General Oligui Nguema, Ali Bongo’s first cousin, is not cited in the “ill-gotten gains” affair, which has affected certain members of the Bongo family. This situation allowed him to strengthen his position within the army.
The duration of the transition remains uncertain, but Brice Oligui Nguema is determined to organize free and credible elections to allow a return to civilian power. In the meantime, he embodies the strong man of Gabon, responsible for guiding the country towards a new political era.
In conclusion, General Brice Oligui Nguema is a complex figure in Gabonese politics. His rise to power during the coup d’état today places him in the position of president of the transition. His military career and his relationship with the Bongo family make him a key figure in the political developments of Gabon. It remains to be seen how he will lead the transition and whether the promised elections will allow a real democratization of the country.