“How Brice Oligui Nguema Ended 56 Years of Bongo Family Rule in Gabon by Overthrowing His Maternal Cousin”
On 30 August 2023, Gabonese General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema led a military coup that overthrew his maternal cousin, President Ali Bongo Ondimba. The coup ended 56 years of Bongo family rule in Gabon.
The family’s rule began on 28 November 1967, when Omar Bongo Ondimba became president following the death of Gabon’s first president, Léon M’ba. Omar Bongo had been vice-president before taking over. He ruled for more than 41 years until 8 June 2009, when he died in Barcelona, Spain, while receiving treatment for colorectal cancer.
During Omar Bongo’s rule, Brice Oligui Nguema served as his bodyguard and aide-de-camp. He remained close to the president until his death in 2009.
At the time of Omar Bongo’s death, his son Ali Bongo Ondimba was serving as Gabon’s defence minister. He had been prepared to succeed his father. His position gave him considerable influence over the country’s military and security forces.
After his father’s death, the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) quickly chose Ali Bongo as its presidential candidate. The presidential election was held on 30 August 2009, and Ali Bongo won with 41.7% of the vote. He was sworn in on 16 October 2009 and ruled the country for the next 14 years.
While Ali Bongo was president, Oligui Nguema served as a military attaché at Gabonese diplomatic missions in Senegal and Morocco. In 2019, he returned to Gabon and was appointed head of the General Directorate of Special Services, an intelligence unit within the Republican Guard.
In April 2020, Oligui Nguema became commander-in-chief of the Republican Guard, an elite military unit responsible for protecting the president and other senior officials. He made major changes to the unit, strengthening its capabilities beyond those of the regular Gabonese army.
Ironically, Ali Bongo supported these changes because they were presented as reforms to strengthen security and protect his government.
However, on 30 August 2023, the Republican Guard helped overthrow the very president it had been tasked with protecting. The coup took place shortly after Gabon’s electoral authorities announced that Ali Bongo had won a third term.
The military officers cancelled the election results, dissolved state institutions and placed Ali Bongo under house arrest. Members of his family and several senior officials were also arrested over allegations of corruption and embezzlement.
Following the coup, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema became transitional president. In November 2024, Gabon adopted a new constitution through a national referendum. It introduced a seven-year presidential term, renewable once, and allowed Oligui Nguema to run in the next presidential election.
On 12 April 2025, Oligui Nguema contested the presidential election and was declared the winner with 94.85% of the vote. He was sworn in on 3 May 2025 for a seven-year term.- Victor Adundo