Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: At least 50 wounded due to missiles hitting four areas in Gush Dan.
Israeli media: Number of killed settlers due to missile strikes in central districts increased to 7.
IRGC: We further affirm that effective, precise, and targeted operations against the vital interests of this artificial and criminal entity will continue until its complete eradication.
IRGC: We witness the fulfillment of the true promises made by martyrs Bagheri, Salami, and Hajizadeh, who had affirmed that Operation True Promise 3 and the subsequent operations would be more destructive, accurate, and intense than previous ones.
IRGC: [Iran's operation caused] some of the Zionist regime’s air defense systems [to begin] targeting each other.
IRGC: Command and control centers of the criminal Zionist entity were targeted using innovative methods and by leveraging intelligence and logistical capabilities.
The IRGC: The latest wave of missile strikes carried out by the IRGC’s Aerospace Force was stronger and more intense than previous ones.
The Israel Electricity Company reports damages in the power grid after missiles hit several locations in central "Israel".
British maritime security firm Ambrey says fires observed at power plant in vicinity of Haifa port following Iranian missile strike.
Sirens sounded in Ras al-Naqoura along the border area between Lebanon and occupied Palestine.

While Gabonese embrace sworn-in Nguema, ECCAS suspends Gabon

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 4 Sep 2023 23:42
  • 4 Shares
4 Min Read

Social media users share footage of Gabonese people and soldiers joyfully roaming the streets of Libreville ahead of Nguema taking the oath of office.

  • x
  • Gabon
    General Brice Oligui Nguema takes the oath of office as Gabon's interim President, on September 4, 2023 (AFP)

Central African regional bloc ECCAS announced on Monday Gabon's suspension and called for an immediate return to "constitutional order" in the country, one week after a popularly-supported coup that toppled Gabonese President Ali Bongo.

"All threats to the peace, security and stability of any ECCAS member, such as Gabon, has repercussions for our countries and communities," indicated Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema in a brief address after a summit held in the country.

A couple of days ago, the African Union's Peace and Security Council strongly condemned the coup and said it decided to "immediately suspend" Gabon until the restoration of "constitutional order" in the country.

This comes a few hours after General Brice Oligui Nguema, who led a coup last week that toppled Gabon's 55-year-old ruling dynasty, took the oath of office as interim President, promising "free, transparent and credible elections" to restore civilian rule.

In a televised ceremony, Nguema, who was cheered by joyful supporters, received a standing ovation from officials and military officers as he arrived for the ceremony, and later by a panel of constitutional court judges after he was sworn in.

Social media users shared footage of Gabonese people and soldiers joyfully roaming the streets of Libreville ahead of the ceremony, in an indication of popular support for Nguema.

To commemorate the occasion, state television broadcast scenes of jubilant crowds, as well as armored personnel carriers shooting into the sea.

🚨🇬🇦#Gabon : swearing-in day in Libreville, atmosphere within the Republican Guard. #GabonCoup pic.twitter.com/iGoIk9j3uf

— N I L E_A L E R T S (@NILEALERTS) September 4, 2023

The event was even attended by several members of Bongo's cabinet, including the Vice President and Prime Minister.

Repeatedly interrupted by cheers of supporters, Nguema deemed the coup -- which drove jubilant crowds to the streets of the capital Libreville -- as a moment of national liberation and a manifestation of God's will.

"When the people are crushed by their leaders ... it's the army that gives them back their dignity," the General indicated in a speech after taking the oath of office.

"People of Gabon, today the times of happiness that our ancestors dreamt of are finally coming."

Related News

Gabon junta chief wins presidency, provisional results show

Gabon's President Nguema in Congo to improve ties, ease isolation

He also vowed to amnesty political prisoners, in a speech in which he said the coup had saved Gabon from bloodshed after elections that were "obviously loaded".

According to media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the vote was held without international observers, and foreign journalists had been restricted from covering the event.

Nguema, head of the elite Republican Guard, last Wednesday led officers to detain President Ali Bongo Ondimba, a descendant of a family that had ruled the oil-rich central African nation since 1967.

The ousting came just moments after Bongo, 64, was proclaimed victor in presidential elections -- a result branded a fraud by the opposition.

The military coup series continues in #Africa as the Gabonese junta depose President Ali Bongo. pic.twitter.com/EIMIay4NAV

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) August 30, 2023

Nguema said he was seeking the participation of all of Gabon's "core groups" to draft a new constitution, which "will be adopted by referendum."

Wearing the red ceremonial uniform of the Republican Guard, the 48-year-old General also said a new government would be named "in a few days" comprising "experienced" and "seasoned" people.

He pointed out that he would instruct the future government "to consider ways of amnestying prisoners of conscience" and "facilitating the return of all exiles" from abroad.

After detaining Bongo, the coup leaders on Wednesday said they had dissolved the nation's institutions, canceled the election results, and temporarily closed the borders.

In his speech, Nguema explained that the Gabonese military had acted to save lives following "an electoral process that was obviously loaded."

"Without violence, clashes or loss of blood, the Committee for Transition and Restoration of Institutions changed the regime which for years had usurped the powers of the institutions of the public, flouting democratic rules," he noted, referring to the name given to the junta.

Quoting South African anti-apartheid Bishop Desmond Tutu, he said, "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor."

Gabon joins Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Niger in the ranks of African countries that have undergone coups in the last three years, expressing anti-Western sentiment.

Read more: Gabon lifts border closure after coup

  • Gabon
  • Gabon coup
  • Brice Oligui Nguema
  • East Africa
  • ECCAS
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Teodoro Obiang Nguema

Most Read

Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • 14 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025
'Israel' launches major strike against Iran's nuclear program

'Israel' launches massive aggression on Iran

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025
Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks to journalists after a meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Iran confirms targeting Haifa oil refinery, vows continued retaliation

An Israeli military working dog searches rubble for survivors in an area hit by a missile fired from Iran, near Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, Sunday, June 15, 2025.(AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli General warns of strategic defeat in war with Iran

Steve Bannon speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP)
Politics

Steve Bannon accuses 'Israel' of pushing US into war with Iran

The Haifa oil refinery burns after being targeted by an Iranian missile, June 15, 2025 (Social Media)
Politics

Iran causes significant damage to Haifa oil refinery, pipelines

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS