Thousands of Gabonese flocked to Libreville, the nation’s capital, to commemorate the end of President Ali Bongo and the Bongo family’s 53-year dominance of the country.
After several top military officers claimed to have taken control on Wednesday, there was a frenzied celebration.
On Wednesday morning, the world awoke to learn that another junta had overthrown the government in Africa.
The late President Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon for nearly 42 years, from 1967 until he died in 2009, is the father of Bongo, who was dismissed.
After the passing of his father, he began to rule. He just won a presidential election with a two-thirds majority, allowing him to start his third term in office.
The inhabitants of the oil-rich Central African nation, however, celebrated when the mutinous military placed Bong under house arrest.
As soon as the election results were announced, shooting could be heard in Libreville’s downtown.
Later, a group of twelve uniformed troops announced their takeover of power on national television.
Critics claim that during its more than 50 years of rule over Gabon, the Bongo family has done nothing to distribute the country’s oil and mineral wealth to its 2.3 million citizens.
Al Jazeera claims that as Bongo’s authority ended, hundreds of people celebrated in the streets, including shopkeeper Viviane Mbou, who offered the soldiers juice, which they turned down.
“Long live our army,” said Jordy Dikaba, a young man walking with his friends on the street lined with police.
“I am marching today because I am joyful. After almost 60 years, the Bongos are out of power,” says Jules Lebigui, an unemployed 27-year-old who joined the celebrations on Libreville’s streets.
The coup was condemned by the West and the rest of the world because of the widespread military takeovers in the Sahel.
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