Gabon finds itself in the throes of political upheaval as military leaders have declared a coup, seizing control of the nation just hours after the incumbent, Ali Bongo, was announced as the winner of Gabon’s presidential election, securing a controversial third term in power.
Ali Bongo, once known as Alain Bernard Bongo, was born under contentious circumstances in neighboring Congo-Brazzaville in February 1959, with persistent rumors, which he vehemently denied, suggesting he might have been adopted from Nigeria during the Biafran war.
Bongo’s political journey began when his father, Omar Bongo, assumed leadership of Gabon in 1967. Despite his early age, young Alain Bernard was exposed to criticisms that would haunt him throughout his life. François Gaulme, a French historian and Gabonese politics expert, noted that his privileged upbringing, including education in the best schools in Libreville, led to allegations of detachment from local culture.
At the age of nine, Ali Bongo was sent to a private school in Neuilly, a posh Paris suburb, and later attended the Sorbonne to study law. His international upbringing fueled perceptions that he was an outsider, although he and his father converted to Islam in 1973, a move seen as an attempt to attract investment from Muslim countries.
Ali Bongo’s early years were marked by a passion for football and music, inherited from his mother, the renowned Gabonese singer Patience Dabany. His youthful reputation as a playboy was cemented with the release of his 1977 funk album “A Brand New Man,” produced by Charles Bobbit, the manager of funk legend James Brown. However, within four years of the album’s release, he shifted his focus to politics, serving as the Minister of Defense in his father’s government for a decade.
President Omar Bongo (President of Gabon), Grace Bongo, Patrice Bongo, Ali Bongo and Pascaline Bongo at the Presidential Palace office in Libreville, Gabon
1989
© 1989 Bobby Holland
Despite initial skepticism among the Gabonese population, Ali Bongo gradually transformed into a more reserved figure, adopting a populist campaign style during his father’s death in 2009, which ultimately led to his election with 42% of the votes. Yet, allegations of election fraud re-emerged in 2016 when his main challenger, Jean Ping, contested the results.
However, Ali Bongo’s fortunes took a dramatic turn in October 2018 when he suffered a stroke during a visit to Saudi Arabia. He was sidelined for nearly a year, and in early 2019, mutinying soldiers attempted a coup, which was ultimately unsuccessful. Upon his return to power, Ali Bongo attempted to refurbish his image as a rigorous leader focused on rooting out corruption within his inner circle, but persistent health concerns continued to shadow his leadership.
Fast forward to 2023, Gabon held its sixth presidential election, which was mired in controversy from the outset due to the simultaneous conduct of presidential, parliamentary, and local elections. This unprecedented combination led to chaos, including late poll openings, missing opposition ballots, and the extension of voting in some areas. After the vote, the internet was cut, and a curfew was imposed, indicating a regime seemingly lacking confidence in its election victory.
Multiple constitutional, legal, and electoral changes further eroded the credibility of the elections, including the last-minute introduction of a single ballot, favoring the incumbent. Despite widespread signs of a rigged election, Ali Bongo was declared the victor with over 64% of the votes while the public was asleep, raising further suspicions of foul play.
It was in this atmosphere of controversy and mistrust that a group of senior military figures declared a coup on national TV, citing the alleged irregularities in the election as justification. The group, known as The Committee of Transition and the Restoration of Institutions, claimed to represent all security and defense forces in Gabon and placed Ali Bongo under house arrest.
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