“Bryce Fens Eligo Ngoma, the military junta leader, is being cheered up like Prom Queen in Gabon after the military coup throwing out erstwhile President Ali Bongo from power” (Insider Times, 30.08.2023).
From the 2nd December 1967 to 30th August 2023, one family ruled Gabon. Libreville was first for 42 years under the reigns of Omar Bongo who ruled the Republic until his death in 2009. While his son took over the reigns in 2009, which lasted to 2023.
The son “won” three elections, but clearly the popularity and the polls wasn’t real. The events of weekend is overshadowed by the swift house-arrest, son charged with treason and a military junta taking total control. That’s happening in the blink of an eye and the transitional CTRI will lead from now on.
We know that Ali Bongo will call havoc and he has even pleaded in a video leaked online from his house-arrest. A man who blocked the internet ahead of the polls and ordered curfews. A man who has been hard on dissidents and blocked any serious challenger. He has made it impossible for any competition, dissidents arrested and silencing critics. That’s what the likes of Bongo does. While getting months on end treatment abroad or shopping in fashionable shops in Paris.
The dynasty of Bongo’s was awesome. They owned flats and estates. They had expensive vehicles and everything a man could wish for. They could afford medical treatment in far away lands and delegate powers to others. That’s what Bongo used to do.
Now, the son and overstaying President is house-arrested. The puppet of France is now behind bars and his house has become a prison. He who just days ago got over “60%” of the vote in the Presidential Elections. These 60% aren’t protesting in the streets and neither are they crying out for mercy for the man. Because most of those 60% precent doesn’t exists and was only made on paper. A fictional piece of an election to give a legitimate mandate for himself. That’s why Paris is quick to condemn it, because the Bongo’s are their clan and their asset in Libreville.
There is a reason why the Gabonese people are celebrating in the streets today. The tormentor and tyrant has a fallen. The puppet of France is now gone. His family and everything surrounding him is being touched too. We are only seeing the beginning. Yes, there will be issues and contested decrees. That comes with the territory of coups.
The military junta will try to forge and secure positions for the long haul too. That’s what they do and ensure their own offices after the transitional period. They are now tasting the sweet fruits of power. Which will be contested and questioned over time as well.
As people celebrate and the ones in dismay are crying out for democracy. There wasn’t a legit democracy with the dynasty. It was a facade and a smoke-screen. The ones believing in Bongo and his cronies are blinded by the fancy titles and the cash-grabs. They earned the fortune on others misfortune. The ones in association had a safe-haven and a money-bag, but the vast majority of Gabonese didn’t and they felt the pain.
The now dethroned and deposed President made this plea today: “Make noise… for the people here have arrested me and my family” (Bongo, 30.08.2023). I don’t feel pity or sorrow for the man. He is getting a taste of brutal justice he has sowed upon others. A man who has taken life for granted and lived life in luxury. While others has lived on scraps. This man is getting a reality check late in life. Him and his family is feeling the true sentiments of the people of the Republic. Which they have misused and used for personal gains. That’s why the tone has changed.
It is up to the CTRI how forgiving and what choices it gives to the former first family and the cronies surrounding him. They will also be touched and possibly be in trouble. There are several of people who will feel the world tumbling down as their guy or President is caught by the authorities. They got to decide as well. Because, the CTRI might clean the house and that means several others will be touched too. Ali Bongo is just the beginning of that. Peace.
MinBane 