The latest news in Gabon was marked by the coup d’état of August 30, which led to the installation of General Brice Oligui Nguema as head of the country. Since then, the transitional president has remained relatively silent, but he recently broke the silence in an interview with RFI. In this interview, he discussed various topics, including the state of mind of the population, concerns about the transition and prospects for the future.
Asked about his state of mind, Alexandre Barro Chambrier, president of the RPM and one of the main leaders of the opposition platform Alternance 2023, expressed his confidence, stressing that military intervention had been necessary to avoid a bath of blood and restore the legitimacy of power. He also recognized that the ideal would have been to respect the results of the election, but that it was now necessary to face reality and move forward.
However, he also expressed concerns about democracy and transparency in the transition period. He insisted that we should not move from a civilian dictatorship to a form of military dictatorship. Although he acknowledged that General Oligui Nguema appears to be an open and honest person, he stressed the importance of judging action on the ground rather than making assumptions.
Another point of concern raised by Barro Chambrier concerns the possibility for General Oligui Nguema to run in the next presidential election. According to him, this provision should be reviewed in the transition charter, in order to avoid any form of continuity with the old regime.
Finally, Barro Chambrier also expressed his concerns about the composition of the transitional government, in which no member of Alternance 2023 was included. He nevertheless assured that Alternance 2023 participants would be present at Parliament level to make their contribution.
In the end, Barro Chambrier stressed that the transition period must be reasonable and limited in time, in order to prevent any temptation to cling to power. He estimated that a period of two years would be sufficient to get the country back on track and establish a solid constitutional order.
This interview with Alexandre Barro Chambrier offers an interesting overview of the current political situation in Gabon, highlighting the concerns of the opposition and the desire for a democratic and transparent transition. It remains to be seen how these concerns will be addressed by General Oligui Nguema and his government in the coming months.