The coup leader who came to power after the Gabonese president last week will soon be sworn in. General Brice Oligui will remain the transitional president of the country for a non-specified period.

Gabon: General Brice Oligui Nguema to be sworn in as 'transitional president'

Military Officers in Gabon said that they had ceased power on Wednesday placing the president under house arrest and aiming for a new leader. After the poll body announced that Ali Bongo Ondimba had won a third term saying that they represented the armed forces. The officers declared on TV that the election results were cancelled and later announced Brice Oligui Nguema as the enw leader.

Gabon coup: Brice Oligui Nguema announced as the new leader

Gabon's President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/gabon-rebel-chief-caught-two-killed-in-failed-coup-presidency-188866">Ali Bongo</a>, who has been out of the country for two months recovering from a stroke, named a new prime minister on Saturday in an apparent effort to shore up his political base days after a failed coup attempt.

The plotters of Monday's coup attempt were arrested or killed within hours of seizing the national radio station, but the move reflected growing frustration with a government weakened by Bongo's secretive medical leave in Morocco.

In a decree read by the secretary-general of the presidency on national television early on Saturday morning, Bongo named Julien Nkoghe Bekale as prime minister, replacing Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet, who has served since 2016.

Issoze-Ngondet's tenure was marked by a sharp drop in oil output and prices that have squeezed revenues, raised debt and stoked discontent in the OPEC member state.

Oil workers' strikes have become more common, and economic growth was 2 per cent last year, down from over 7 per cent in 2011.

The nomination of Nkoghe Bekale, 56, who has held several ministerial posts since 2009, represents a return to a tradition begun by Bongo's father, Omar, of choosing prime ministers from the Fang, Gabon's largest ethnic group.

Omar Bongo ruled Gabon from 1967 until his death in 2009, establishing the country as a pillar of "Francafrique", a web of influence that gave companies from former colonial power France favoured access to African autocrats.

The Bongos come from a smaller ethnic group, and the appointments were a way of broadening the president's base. But Ali Bongo, who succeeded his father when he died, bucked tradition in 2016 by choosing Issoze-Ngondet, who comes from a different ethnic group.

Bongo's absence from Gabon since his October 24 stroke in Saudi Arabia has raised questions about his ability to continue carrying out his official functions, although the government has insisted he is recovering well.

A December 31 address from Morocco in which the 59-year-old president slurred his speech and appeared unable to move his right arm failed to reassure many Gabonese and was cited as one of the coup plotters' reasons for acting.

Bongo won re-election in 2016 by fewer than 6,000 votes amid widespread accusations of fraud, sparking deadly clashes between protesters and police during which the parliament was torched.

Gabon's President Ali Bongo, who has been out of the country for two months recovering from a stroke, named a new prime minister on Saturday in an apparent effort to shore up his political base days after a failed coup attempt.

Gabon's President Ali Bongo, who has been out of the country for two months recovering from a stroke, named a new prime minister on Saturday in an apparent effort to shore up his political base days after a failed coup attempt. The plotters of Monday's coup attempt were arrested or killed within hours of seizing the national radio station, but the move reflected growing frustration with a government weakened by Bongo's secretive medical leave in Morocco. In a decree read by the secretary-general of the presidency on national television early on Saturday morning, Bongo named Julien Nkoghe Bekale as prime minister, replacing Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet, who has served since 2016. Issoze-Ngondet's tenure was marked by a sharp drop in oil output and prices that have squeezed revenues, raised debt and stoked discontent in the OPEC member state. Oil workers' strikes have become more common, and economic growth was 2 per cent last year, down from over 7 per cent in 2011. The nomination of Nkoghe Bekale, 56, who has held several ministerial posts since 2009, represents a return to a tradition begun by Bongo's father, Omar, of choosing prime ministers from the Fang, Gabon's largest ethnic group. Omar Bongo ruled Gabon from 1967 until his death in 2009, establishing the country as a pillar of "Francafrique", a web of influence that gave companies from former colonial power France favoured access to African autocrats. The Bongos come from a smaller ethnic group, and the appointments were a way of broadening the president's base. But Ali Bongo, who succeeded his father when he died, bucked tradition in 2016 by choosing Issoze-Ngondet, who comes from a different ethnic group. Bongo's absence from Gabon since his October 24 stroke in Saudi Arabia has raised questions about his ability to continue carrying out his official functions, although the government has insisted he is recovering well. A December 31 address from Morocco in which the 59-year-old president slurred his speech and appeared unable to move his right arm failed to reassure many Gabonese and was cited as one of the coup plotters' reasons for acting. Bongo won re-election in 2016 by fewer than 6,000 votes amid widespread accusations of fraud, sparking deadly clashes between protesters and police during which the parliament was torched.

Gabon's Bongo names new prime minister after thwarted coup attempt

Gabon soldiers on state radio early Monday called on the people to "rise up" and announced a "national restoration council" would be formed, as an ailing President Ali Bongo is out of the country.

Shots were heard in the around state television headquarters in the centre of the capital at about the same time as the message was read at 6:30 am (0530 GMT).

Military vehicles blocked access to the boulevard where the offices are located, an AFP correspondent said.

The message was read on state radio by a person who identified himself as the deputy commander of the Republican Guard and head of a group called the Patriotic Youth Movement of the Gabonese Defence and Security Forces.

Three soldiers wearing the green beret of the Republican Guard were visible on a video of the speech circulating on social media and authenticated by AFP.

The movement "calls on all young people from forces for the defence and security and Gabonese young people to join us," the officer said, announcing that a "national restoration council" would be formed.&nbsp;

"We cannot abandon our homeland," he said.

"The eagerly awaited day has arrived when the army has decided to put itself on the side of the people in order to save Gabon from chaos.

"If you are eating, stop; if you are having a drink, stop; if you are sleeping, wake up. Wake up your neighbours... rise up as one and take control of the street," he said on the radio.

He called on people to occupy public buildings and airports throughout the country.

The developments came as Bongo is recovering at a private residence in the Moroccan capital Rabat.

The 59-year-old leader has not been back to Gabon since he fell ill in Saudi Arabia on October 24.

It was revealed last month that he had suffered a stroke.

On December 31, he addressed the country for the first time since falling ill, saying in a recorded speech from Morocco that he had "been through a difficult period."

The Bongo family has governed the oil-rich equatorial African nation for five decades.

Ali Bongo was elected head of state after his father's death in 2009.

He was narrowly re-elected in 2016 following a presidential poll marred by deadly violence and allegations of fraud.

Gabon soldiers on state radio early Monday called on the people to "rise up" and announced a "national restoration council" would be formed, as an ailing President Ali Bongo is out of the country.

Gabon soldiers on state radio early Monday called on the people to "rise up" and announced a "national restoration council" would be formed, as an ailing President Ali Bongo is out of the country. Shots were heard in the around state television headquarters in the centre of the capital at about the same time as the message was read at 6:30 am (0530 GMT). Military vehicles blocked access to the boulevard where the offices are located, an AFP correspondent said. The message was read on state radio by a person who identified himself as the deputy commander of the Republican Guard and head of a group called the Patriotic Youth Movement of the Gabonese Defence and Security Forces. Three soldiers wearing the green beret of the Republican Guard were visible on a video of the speech circulating on social media and authenticated by AFP. The movement "calls on all young people from forces for the defence and security and Gabonese young people to join us," the officer said, announcing that a "national restoration council" would be formed. "We cannot abandon our homeland," he said. "The eagerly awaited day has arrived when the army has decided to put itself on the side of the people in order to save Gabon from chaos. "If you are eating, stop; if you are having a drink, stop; if you are sleeping, wake up. Wake up your neighbours... rise up as one and take control of the street," he said on the radio. He called on people to occupy public buildings and airports throughout the country. The developments came as Bongo is recovering at a private residence in the Moroccan capital Rabat. The 59-year-old leader has not been back to Gabon since he fell ill in Saudi Arabia on October 24. It was revealed last month that he had suffered a stroke. On December 31, he addressed the country for the first time since falling ill, saying in a recorded speech from Morocco that he had "been through a difficult period." The Bongo family has governed the oil-rich equatorial African nation for five decades. Ali Bongo was elected head of state after his father's death in 2009. He was narrowly re-elected in 2016 following a presidential poll marred by deadly violence and allegations of fraud.

Gabon soldiers call for uprising, shots heard in capital

Gabon&#39;s constitutional court has upheld President Ali Bongo&#39;s re-election victory after rejecting an appeal by rival Jean Ping, who had asked for a recount over allegations of fraud.&nbsp; 
 
The court partially changed results of the August 27 vote and said Bongo maintained a lead by taking 50.66 per cent of the vote against ally-turned-rival Ping. 
 
Ping&#39;s camp has refused to concede defeat in the election. &quot;No one can dispute the fact that Jean Ping has roundly won this election,&quot; his spokesman Jean Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi told AFP after the court announcement. 
 
Bongo&#39;s victory after the bitterly fought election had sparked days of violent protests, sending the country in a political limbo. 
 
After the ruling, Bongo appealed for &quot;political dialogue&quot; with the opposition to tackle the crisis. 
 
&quot;I call all political leaders, including the defeated candidates in the August 27 election, for a political dialogue,&quot; Bongo said in a speech broadcast on television.&nbsp; 
 
Jean Ping had asked the constitutional court to recount votes in the&nbsp;Haut-Ogooue province, the stronghold of the Bongo family, where the President won more than 95 per cent of the votes. 
 
EU observers had said there was a &quot;clear anomaly&quot; in those results, AFP reported. 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP) 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

The country's constitutional court rejected a vote recount plea by President Bongo's opponent Jean Ping

Gabon's constitutional court has upheld President Ali Bongo's re-election victory after rejecting an appeal by rival Jean Ping, who had asked for a recount over allegations of fraud. The court partially changed results of the August 27 vote and said Bongo maintained a lead by taking 50.66 per cent of the vote against ally-turned-rival Ping. Ping's camp has refused to concede defeat in the election. "No one can dispute the fact that Jean Ping has roundly won this election," his spokesman Jean Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi told AFP after the court announcement. Bongo's victory after the bitterly fought election had sparked days of violent protests, sending the country in a political limbo. After the ruling, Bongo appealed for "political dialogue" with the opposition to tackle the crisis. "I call all political leaders, including the defeated candidates in the August 27 election, for a political dialogue," Bongo said in a speech broadcast on television. Jean Ping had asked the constitutional court to recount votes in the Haut-Ogooue province, the stronghold of the Bongo family, where the President won more than 95 per cent of the votes. EU observers had said there was a "clear anomaly" in those results, AFP reported. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Gabon court upholds Ali Bongo's re-election win

Gabon&#39;s parliament was set ablaze by angry protesters after President Ali Bongo was re-elected in what he claimed to be a &quot;peaceful and transparent election&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Libreville&#39;s streets erupted in fury as thousands faced the heavily-armed security forces and some of them vandalised a shopping center and looted a bank, according to AP.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The whole building is catching fire,&quot; a man outside parliament told AFP. 
 
Bongo won Saturday&#39;s presidential poll by just 5,594 votes, taking 49.80 per cent to 48.23 per cent for his rival Jean Ping, a veteran diplomat and former top African Union official.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Jean Ping president!&quot;, &quot;They stole the election&quot;, &quot;Ali must go&quot; echoed through city&#39;s slums as helicopters flew overhead and smoke rose above poorer neighbourhoods.&nbsp; 
 
Bongo&#39;s term has extended to another seven years. Opposition members of the Central African oil producer&#39;s electoral commission have rejected the election results and have vowed to fight for a recount.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;It&#39;s going to be difficult to get people to accept these results,&quot; one member of the electoral commission confided to AFP. 
 
&quot;We&#39;ve never seen results like these, even during the father`s time,&quot; he added.&nbsp; 
 
Ali Bongo was first elected in 2009 after the death of his father, Omar Bongo, who ran Gabon for 42 years.&nbsp; 
 
The credibility of the elections is being widely questioned. France&#39;s foreign ministry said the manner in which the final results were announced was a great source of concern.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;We think it is necessary to publish the results of all the polling stations. The credibility of the election as well as Gabon&#39;s international reputation are at stake,&quot; it said. 
 
A similar sentiment was expressed by the US Department of State which called upon Gabon&#39;s security forces to exercise restraint.&nbsp; 
 
One third of Gabon&#39;s population lives in poverty, despite the country boasting one of Africa&#39;s highest per capita incomes at $8,300 (7,400 euros) thanks to pumping 200,000 barrels of oil a day. Economic troubles have largely been driven by budget cuts in Africa&#39;s wealthiest nation.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Thousands of angry protesters took to the streets against Bongo's re-election. Opposition have vowed to fight for a recount

Gabon's parliament was set ablaze by angry protesters after President Ali Bongo was re-elected in what he claimed to be a "peaceful and transparent election". Libreville's streets erupted in fury as thousands faced the heavily-armed security forces and some of them vandalised a shopping center and looted a bank, according to AP. "The whole building is catching fire," a man outside parliament told AFP. Bongo won Saturday's presidential poll by just 5,594 votes, taking 49.80 per cent to 48.23 per cent for his rival Jean Ping, a veteran diplomat and former top African Union official. "Jean Ping president!", "They stole the election", "Ali must go" echoed through city's slums as helicopters flew overhead and smoke rose above poorer neighbourhoods. Bongo's term has extended to another seven years. Opposition members of the Central African oil producer's electoral commission have rejected the election results and have vowed to fight for a recount. "It's going to be difficult to get people to accept these results," one member of the electoral commission confided to AFP. "We've never seen results like these, even during the father`s time," he added. Ali Bongo was first elected in 2009 after the death of his father, Omar Bongo, who ran Gabon for 42 years. The credibility of the elections is being widely questioned. France's foreign ministry said the manner in which the final results were announced was a great source of concern. "We think it is necessary to publish the results of all the polling stations. The credibility of the election as well as Gabon's international reputation are at stake," it said. A similar sentiment was expressed by the US Department of State which called upon Gabon's security forces to exercise restraint. One third of Gabon's population lives in poverty, despite the country boasting one of Africa's highest per capita incomes at $8,300 (7,400 euros) thanks to pumping 200,000 barrels of oil a day. Economic troubles have largely been driven by budget cuts in Africa's wealthiest nation. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Gabon's parliament set ablaze after Bongo's win

Gabon re-elected Ali Bongo as its president today, putting an end to controversies after rival Jean Ping claimed victory earlier. 
 
Gabon&#39;s election commission (Cenap) approved the elections and an official announcement will be made by the interior minister on a nationwide television, AFP reported. 
 
Bongo acquired 49.8 per cent votes, winning by a close edge as Ping managed 48.23 per cent of the vote bank nationwide. 
 
&quot;This presidential election projects us into a new era, a new dimension of our democracy,&quot; Bongo&#39;s spokesman Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze said in a statement. 
 
Bongo, following his father Omar&#39;s footsteps, stood as a leader of the oil-rich state for his second term. Ping has worked with Omar for many years, AFP reported. 
 
&quot;We tell the people of Gabon not to let their victory be stolen from them. Ali Bongo does not own this country,&quot; Paul Marie Gondjout, a commission member for Ping&#39;s party, told Reuters. 
 
Saturday vote was not accepted by delegates from Ping&#39;s team which lead to a secret ballot voting by the members of Cenap to approve the vote count. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

Bongo acquired 49.8 per cent votes, winning by a close edge as rival Ping managed 48.23 per cent of the vote bank nationwide

Gabon re-elected Ali Bongo as its president today, putting an end to controversies after rival Jean Ping claimed victory earlier. Gabon's election commission (Cenap) approved the elections and an official announcement will be made by the interior minister on a nationwide television, AFP reported. Bongo acquired 49.8 per cent votes, winning by a close edge as Ping managed 48.23 per cent of the vote bank nationwide. "This presidential election projects us into a new era, a new dimension of our democracy," Bongo's spokesman Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze said in a statement. Bongo, following his father Omar's footsteps, stood as a leader of the oil-rich state for his second term. Ping has worked with Omar for many years, AFP reported. "We tell the people of Gabon not to let their victory be stolen from them. Ali Bongo does not own this country," Paul Marie Gondjout, a commission member for Ping's party, told Reuters. Saturday vote was not accepted by delegates from Ping's team which lead to a secret ballot voting by the members of Cenap to approve the vote count. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Ali Bongo re-elected as Gabon President

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