Gabon: Oligui faces an unprecedented revolt, the union of his opponents makes the government tremble

This morning, a page of Gabonese political history was turned with a bang. Pierre-Claver Maganga Moussavou , Albert Ondo Ossa , Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nzé and Ali Akbar Onanga Y'Obégué joined together to denounce what they consider to be an authoritarian drift of the transitional regime led by Brice Oligui Nguema .

Although their political careers had sometimes set them against each other, their observation is now common: the CTRI has hijacked the transition and is locking the country down in defiance of initial promises. This alliance, unthinkable just a few months ago, is the fruit of a growing popular mobilization , fueled by groups such as Gabon 2025 , which have warned of the government's maneuvers.

An increasingly contested military regime

Since his coup d'état of August 30, 2023, Brice Oligui Nguema had promised a democratic and inclusive transition. A year later, the actions of the CTRI are a million miles from these commitments .

The four leaders, now united under the same banner, denounce a militarization of power and a growing opacity in the management of the country. According to them, the transitional government modifies the Constitution at will , takes unilateral decisions and gradually eliminates any dissenting voice .

The recent referendum, which was supposed to confirm a return to democratic institutions, is described as a farce by this coalition. The constitutional text was subsequently revised without consultation, casting serious doubt on the sincerity of the process .

Four figures, one anger

Rarely in the recent history of Gabon have such different personalities found themselves united in the same struggle:

• Pierre-Claver Maganga Moussavou , former vice-president and political veteran, known for his moderate approach.
• Albert Ondo Ossa , professor of economics and former minister, who embodied the opposition in the 2023 presidential election.
• Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nzé , former Prime Minister under Ali Bongo , who was a figure in power before distancing himself from the military regime.
• Ali Akbar Onanga Y'Obégué , former director general of taxes and fine technocrat, whose rallying shows the extent of the malaise in the Gabonese administration.

Their alliance is not a political fusion, but a convergence of anger and urgency in the face of what they see as a hijacking of the transition process .

A grumbling people, a crumbling legitimacy

If this joint statement is making so much noise, it is because it comes in an explosive context . The Oligui regime is already under pressure :

• The scandal of the rigged ENA competition revealed an administration riddled with special privileges and irregularities.
• The management of SEEG , a symbol of the decline of public services, is a source of growing discontent.
• Civil servants are still waiting for their salaries , while billions are being pumped into opaque projects.
• The results of the referendum were contested , and the post-vote amendment to the Constitution highlighted the manipulations of power.

Far from being a simple symbolic appeal, this union is intended to be a response to the frustration of a population that has seen no concrete change since the putsch . Social networks are ablaze , discussions are multiplying: Oligui Nguema no longer has a monopoly on political speech .

A response from the regime to come?

Until now, the government's strategy has been to downplay criticism, control the media and discredit the opposition. But this time, the protests are coming from all fronts : from political veterans, technocrats, figures from the old regime and even supporters of the transition disappointed by the evolution of events.

The big question now is: will Oligui choose appeasement or repression?

Faced with a faltering power, popular mobilization could be the key to the outcome . This may be just the beginning of the end for the CTRI .