Gabon’s military, which seized power of the Central African nation after a coup, appointed former opposition leader, Raymond Ndong Sima, as prime minister of the transitional government on Thursday (September 7). This comes days after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gabon-coup-leader-sworn-in-as-interim-president-632236">Gabonese General Brice Oligui Nguema</a>, who led the coup that ousted President Ali Bongo, was sworn in as the interim president.&nbsp;

<h2>Sima’s appointment as interim PM</h2>

Sima, 68, was an outspoken critic of Bongo, who was ousted by military officers following a coup on August 30, minutes after the announcement that he had secured a third term after an election whose result has since been annulled by the military after saying it was not credible.&nbsp;

The newly appointed Gabonese PM is an economist and also served as Bongo’s prime minister from 2012 to 2014. However, in 2016, Sima resigned and ran against Bongo for president and again as part of an opposition coalition in the recently concluded elections.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gabon-soldiers-announce-cancellation-of-elections-dissolution-of-institutions-on-tv-630424">Gabonese military seizes power after President Ali Bongo wins third term in elections</a>

Sima’s appointment was announced on state TV on Thursday in a decree by Oligui, who was sworn in as interim president on Monday. Bongo had been in power since 2009 and succeeded his father Omar Bongo, who ruled the Central African nation of 2.3 million people for 42 years.&nbsp;

Bongo’s ouster was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-after-niger-this-is-why-coup-in-gabon-is-receiving-public-support-630612">widely celebrated</a> in the capital Libreville, and the military government moved quickly to consolidate power with the coup leader sworn in as the interim president who has vowed to “hold free, transparent and credible elections” after a still-unspecified transition period.&nbsp;

The former president, who had been under house arrest since the coup, is now free, said the Gabon junta, on Wednesday (Sep 6) and could travel abroad for medical checks if he wished.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gabon-general-to-be-sworn-in-as-president-african-union-suspends-membership-631019">Gabon general to be sworn in as president, African Union suspends membership</a>

<h2>What’s happening in Gabon?</h2>

Abdou Abarry, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Central Africa, met Oligui on Wednesday and told him that the UN would assist the country as it made a fresh start.

“Once we know the roadmap, the timetable, once a government will have been appointed, our different agencies will make the necessary contacts and continue to support Gabon,” said Abarry after the meeting in Libreville, in remarks broadcast on Gabon 24 TV.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gabon-elections-government-cuts-internet-imposes-curfew-amid-voting-delays-629584">Gabon elections: Government cuts internet, imposes curfew amid voting delays</a>

The Central African regional bloc ECCAS has also proposed a 12-month transition period to Gabonese authorities, a senior government official taking part in discussions within the 11-nation bloc told Reuters. “We are awaiting their response,” the source told the news agency.&nbsp;

This comes after the ECCAS suspended Gabon on Monday but sent the president of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadera, as its representative to meet the country’s coup leader and president.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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Gabon’s military, which seized power of the Central African nation after a coup, appointed former opposition leader, Raymond Ndong Sima, as prime minister of the transitional government on Thursday (September 7).

Gabon’s military, which seized power of the Central African nation after a coup, appointed former opposition leader, Raymond Ndong Sima, as prime minister of the transitional government on Thursday (September 7). This comes days after Gabonese General Brice Oligui Nguema, who led the coup that ousted President Ali Bongo, was sworn in as the interim president. Sima’s appointment as interim PM Sima, 68, was an outspoken critic of Bongo, who was ousted by military officers following a coup on August 30, minutes after the announcement that he had secured a third term after an election whose result has since been annulled by the military after saying it was not credible. The newly appointed Gabonese PM is an economist and also served as Bongo’s prime minister from 2012 to 2014. However, in 2016, Sima resigned and ran against Bongo for president and again as part of an opposition coalition in the recently concluded elections. ALSO READ | Gabonese military seizes power after President Ali Bongo wins third term in elections Sima’s appointment was announced on state TV on Thursday in a decree by Oligui, who was sworn in as interim president on Monday. Bongo had been in power since 2009 and succeeded his father Omar Bongo, who ruled the Central African nation of 2.3 million people for 42 years. Bongo’s ouster was widely celebrated in the capital Libreville, and the military government moved quickly to consolidate power with the coup leader sworn in as the interim president who has vowed to “hold free, transparent and credible elections” after a still-unspecified transition period. The former president, who had been under house arrest since the coup, is now free, said the Gabon junta, on Wednesday (Sep 6) and could travel abroad for medical checks if he wished. ALSO READ | Gabon general to be sworn in as president, African Union suspends membership What’s happening in Gabon? Abdou Abarry, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Central Africa, met Oligui on Wednesday and told him that the UN would assist the country as it made a fresh start. “Once we know the roadmap, the timetable, once a government will have been appointed, our different agencies will make the necessary contacts and continue to support Gabon,” said Abarry after the meeting in Libreville, in remarks broadcast on Gabon 24 TV. ALSO READ | Gabon elections: Government cuts internet, imposes curfew amid voting delays The Central African regional bloc ECCAS has also proposed a 12-month transition period to Gabonese authorities, a senior government official taking part in discussions within the 11-nation bloc told Reuters. “We are awaiting their response,” the source told the news agency. This comes after the ECCAS suspended Gabon on Monday but sent the president of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadera, as its representative to meet the country’s coup leader and president. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Gabon’s military govt appoints former opposition leader, Raymond Ndong Sima, as interim PM

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'

Gabon's army said on Saturday (September 2) that it would reopen the country's borders, closed in the wake of the military coup that ousted ex-president Ali Bongo.

Gabon's army said on Saturday (September 2) that it would reopen the country's borders, closed in the wake of the military coup that ousted ex-president Ali Bongo. A spokesman for Gabon's military rulers said on state TV that they had "decided with immediate effect to reopen the land, sea and air borders as of this Saturday". Gabon's new military leader General Brice Oligui Nguema said on Friday (September 1) that the suspension of democracy will only be temporary amid the ongoing coup. In a speech, General Nguema said, "The dissolution of institutions during the coup is temporary," adding it is a question of reorganising them to make them more democratic. Nguema warned business leaders in Gabon against "over-billing" and told them to commit to the development of the country. "It is difficult to perceive, at this stage, your commitment or patriotism when it comes to the development expected by our compatriots," he added. The military chief vowed to make sure the overcharged money comes back to the state. Nguema also invited foreign donors, diplomats and members of international organisations to meet with him. Will not rush to elections: Nguema Nguema also said on Friday that the junta will proceed "quickly but surely" but that it would avoid elections that "repeat the same mistakes" by keeping the same people in power. "Going as quickly as possible does not mean organising ad hoc elections, where we will end up with the same errors," he said. Also read | US says 'deeply concerned' by events in Gabon, urges military to 'preserve civilian rule' Nguema, the head of the Republican Guard, led the coup against President Ali Bongo Ondimba and placed him under house arrest. The takeover ended the Bongo family's 56-year hold on power. The coup came just moments after an announcement that Bongo had secured a third term. The junta installed Nguema as the head of the state. He is due to be sworn in as "transitional president." The junta has dissolved Gabon's institutions, cancelled the election results and closed the borders. On Friday, images from local media showed Bongo's son Noureddin Bongo Valentin and other arrested officials in front of suitcases filled with cash allegedly seized from their homes. African Union suspends Gabon's membership following coup On Thursday, the African Union (AU) suspended Gabon's membership following Wednesday's coup. The AU's Peace and Security Council barred Gabon's participation in all its activities, organs and institutions until constitutional order was restored. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Days after coup, Gabon junta reopens borders 'effective immediately'

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