General Brice Oligui Nguema, the army general who led a military coup that overthrew President Ali Bongo Ondimba last week will today (Monday, September 4) be sworn in as “transitional president”.

General Nguema – the head of the elite Republican Guard – will now take over the oil-rich nation for an unspecified period, marking an end to the 55-year Bongo dynasty.

Wednesday’s coup came just hours after the  the Gabonese Election Centre (CGE) had declared Bongo winner of the presidential election, winning his third term.

According to CGE, Bongo has won 64.27% of the vote, while his main challenger, Albert Ondo Ossa, had come in second place with 30.77%. 

The opposition had termed the election results a fraud.

– free, fair, transparent elections –

While taking over power, the coup leaders said they had cancelled Gabon’s election results and dissolved all the nation’s institutions.

General Nguema has so far promised to oversee a “free, transparent, credible and peaceful elections”, although he did not state a specific date for the polls.

He has also pledged to create more democratic institutions that respect human rights.