palace coup

Who is Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the man who toppled Ali Bongo Ondimba?

By Jeanne Le Bihan, Mathieu Olivier

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Posted on August 30, 2023 15:27

Ali Bongo Ondimba and Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, July 21, 2023. © COM PR ID

In Gabon, the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) announced that Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Chief Commander of the Republican Guard, will lead the organisation. A general trained in Morocco, he hails from Haut-Ogooué, the birthplace of the Bongo family.

This Wednesday morning, his name was first chanted by members of the Republican Guard, over whom he has command, inside the presidential palace. Shortly after, confirmation came: Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema is now the president of the CTRI, which declared it was seizing power in Libreville on 30 August, as announced on Gabon 24, the national television.

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