Why coup leader Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema is embracing democracy

Less than 19 months after the bloody coup, which ended more than 50 years of rule by the Bongo family, people who have been in a public opinion to select a new national manager who tends to be obsessed with military leaders in elsewhere in Africa.

On Saturday, the overwhelmingly favorite thing in the race is that he led the peaceful perch and since then, he has dominated the Brice Clotaire Oligui NGUEMA.

The elite Republican Guard, who has abandoned the soldier’s fatigue and military status in favor of the politician’s lawsuit, is headed for seven other candidates.

Gaining popularity among the population is helped by eliminating the rules of dynasties and disqualifying some major challengers.

His campaign slogan using his initial “C’Bon” is a play about the French word “c’est bon”, which means “good work”.

His opportunity to avoid his second round leak is strengthened by the fact that he did not face his cause, one of the rare political or civil society figures.

Victory will bring about seven years of commands and crisis breads to fulfill the development and modern reform at a speed that the rulers of African countries can not even dream.

Gabon is an existing oil producer with only 2.5 million people and is the second largest export country in the world.

The territory sitting on the equator includes the most biological diversity area of ​​the Congo basin rainforest.

In addition to the harsh elections in the capital of Libreville, the capital of Libreville, the country enjoyed most of the calm history in contrast to conflicts and instability that bothered many neighbors.

Oligui NGUEMA and his Republican security guards did not meet the resistance when they took control of power several hours after the election authorities took them to the air in the middle of August 30, 2023.

It was hard to see this official result as reliable. Ali Bongo, who succeeded his father Omar in 2009, won a narrow and controversial victory in a 2016 poll.

Two years later, when he had a stroke in his visit to Saudi Arabia, he was widespread as he began a gradual recovery.

But despite his noticeable weak health, the atmosphere was changed after the decision was made in the third semester. This caused the infinite influence of the French -born wife Silvia and his son Nourredin Bongo Valentin and the extensive anger of ambition.

The peaceful intervention of the army maintains the sustainability of the regime and arrests Sylvia and nutrition. Restricting Ali to retirement in his personal villaThis clearly triggered a voluntary celebration among many Gabones, who were not tired of this indescribable dynasty.

And the coup was also greeted by slogans by most administrative, political and civil society elites.

Oligui NGUEMA reached out to build a wide range of support for his conversion system and gained surprisingly advantage. He has brought to the same power structure or institution, such as the Senate, who has appointed an important civil society voice so far.

Ali -Bongo’s wife and son are being detained waiting for trials for corruption, but political prisoners were released.

He did not rely on the opposition or the freedom of freedom of speech that became the daily tools of other military leaders in Franco von Africa in Mali, Guinea, Bourkina Paso, and Niger.

On the diplomatic front, in contrast to the anti -Western posture adopted by the African regime, in contrast to the anti -Western posture, the Oligo NGUEMA dispatched senior characters to raise international good faith and convinced the traditional partner of the one.

Relationship with France, former colonial power and previous allies of the Bongo regime are warm.

The two governments recently agreed to switch to a new training center to jointly operate Camp de Gaulle, the old French base of Gabon.

Oligui NGUEMA showed a popular and political touch, responding to the public’s hunger for changes with the acceleration of public business and delayed projects.

And in order to defend the national interests more noticeable when public support increases throughout Franco von Africa, his government has acquired Kabones’ assets of several foreign oil companies, including British tools.

To alleviate the restrictions on government finances, he borrowed from the local fund market, but was surprisingly trying to reassure international partners.

In February, most of the $ 550 million (£ 465 million) raised through Euro -Mond was used to repay old debt, and the government also raised funds to clean up the delinquency of debt to the World Bank.

But if you are elected as the national manager of Gabon on Saturday, this NGUEMA will face a significant challenge.

The hunger for the change of the public was an easy part of the transition in many ways. There was little pressure from the public to limit his freedom of maneuver.

In the new constitution, there was a wide range of agreements on integrating the ban on the succession of the dynasty.

When Oligui NGUEMA abolished the prime minister’s position, there was little turmoil when some members of the National Assembly resolved concerns about the concentration of the presidential position.

But this means that the weight of responsibility for the future of the public will only correspond to his shoulders.

Prominent political and civil society figures such as veteran opponents Alexandre Barro-Chambrier Tropical rainforest activist Marc ona EssanguiHe joined his transitional administration or political machine, Rassemblement Des Bâtisseurs (RDB) and was able to play an important role after the election.

Nevertheless, the focus is on Oligui NGUEMA. And he will face complex challenges.

Gabon has long been deployed as a leader in preserving tropical rainforests and huge flora and fauna, and has attracted international praise for the passionate use of climate financial tools.

However, this strategic approach must be in harmony with economic pressure, along with the demands of other natural resources, especially mineral and oil, and the demands of rural communities to protect hunting and agricultural business.

In particular, the urban population of Libreville, the home of almost half of the state’s population, requires more jobs and better services in countries where social development records are disappointed, given the relative richness.

Since he could not produce his father’s birth certificate, the nomination requirement, the unionist Jean Rémy Yama, excluding the presidential competition, is one person with a considerable followers who can voic the frustration of the public.

For Oligui NGUEMA, the most difficult task begins.

Paul Melly is an African program and consulting companion in the Chatham House in London.