IMAGEXETERA – Gabon’s constitutional court swore in Gen. Brice Nguema as the interim president on Monday. The ceremony was broadcast live on TV.

Nguema led a coup last week that toppled President Ali Bongo Ondimba, ending the long reign of the Bongo family in Gabonese politics.

Bongo, 64, took over from his father Omar Bongo, who died in 2009 after ruling the Central African country for more than 40 years with an iron fist.

Before the coup, Bongo had won a controversial presidential election that faced delays, internet shutdowns, and foreign media restrictions. The Bongo government was accused of rigging the vote.

The junta put Bongo under house arrest, annulled the election results, and closed the country’s borders. The coup sparked international criticism.

However many Gabonese celebrated the coup and showed support for the military.

Nguema, who used to be Omar Bongo’s bodyguard, became the leader of the transition.

He opened Gabon’s borders and talked to political leaders about reform and transition plans before his inauguration on Monday. Local media reported on his activities.

It is unclear how long Nguema will stay in power. He said earlier that he would not hurry to hold a new election to avoid making “the same mistakes,” according to Reuters.

Opposition parties in Gabon want the junta to restart the election process and finish counting the votes. They claim that Albert Ondo Ossa, who came second in the canceled election, is the rightful winner.

Gabon is the latest former French colony to experience a coup in the past three years. Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, and Tunisia have also seen coups that have hampered democracy.

Many Gabonese see Bongo’s removal as a big win for the people of the poor but oil-rich nation.

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