The jubilant streets of Gabon bear witness to what appears, at first glance, as a ground-breaking revolution. As the country turns a new page in its history, there’s a collective sigh of relief with the military junta promising a future underpinned by “free, transparent” elections. The coup, orchestrated by Gen Brice Nguema, brought an end to the longstanding rule of President Ali Bongo, a man whose leadership, many argue, wasn’t truly democratic.
But as the celebrations quiet down and the dust begins to settle, a shadow of doubt is cast over the true intentions of the junta. While the populace hails Gen Nguema as a hero, critics raise eyebrows at the conspicuous ties binding the general to the very dynasty he’s supposedly toppled.
Gen Nguema’s appointment as the interim president only scratches the surface of a layered family drama. Despite being at the forefront of last Wednesday’s coup against Bongo, Nguema’s connections run deep within the family tree. Ali Bongo’s rule followed his father Omar’s 41-year tenure, laying the foundation for over half a century of Bongo control. And Gen Nguema? Rumored to be none other than Ali Bongo’s cousin.
The echoes of promises for a new government “in a few days”, alongside proposed changes to the electoral legislation and even a new constitution, might seem like refreshing winds of change to many. Yet, the vagueness surrounding an actual date to relinquish military control and return to civilian rule, coupled with Nguema’s historical proximity to the Bongos, does more to stoke the flames of skepticism than quench them.
Defeated presidential candidate Albert Ondo Ossa perhaps summed up the sentiment best by calling the coup a “palace revolution”, suggesting it was less about liberating Gabon from the grips of the Bongo regime, and more about keeping power within the family’s grasp.
The continent has recently witnessed an alarming rise in military coups. Gabon is the latest addition to a list that includes Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Niger. With each upheaval, the promise of democracy is often dangled before a desperate and hopeful populace. Yet, all too often, these promises are left unfulfilled, leaving the people betrayed.
In Gabon, as street celebrations unfold in the wake of the Bongo dynasty’s seeming end, the underlying question is evident: Is this truly the dawn of a new democratic era, or merely a rebranding of the same legacy under a different family member’s name?
Image Credit: REUTERS/Stringe
