Gabon’s coup leader vowed after being sworn in as interim president on Monday to restore civilian rule through “free, transparent and credible elections” after a transition and amnesty prisoners of conscience. Oligui said he was “surprised” at foreign criticism of the coup. The military had been prompted by a desire to avoid bloodshed following “an electoral process that was obviously loaded,” he said. Five other countries in Africa — Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Niger — have undergone coups in the last three years, although their circumstances are different from Gabon’s. The three Sahel countries, for instance, saw military takeovers after elected presidents failed to stem a bloody jihadist insurgency.

Source: The North Africa Journal September 04, 2023 14:43 UTC