Gabon’s new military ruler, General Brice Nguema, was sworn in as the country’s caretaker president on Monday, five days after seizing power in a coup in the Central African country.
The inauguration ceremony took place at Gabon’s presidential palace in the capital Libreville, which was surrounded by cheering crowds.
On Saturday, Nguema pledged to introduce more democracy after the military had dethroned President Ali Bongo from the long-term ruling Bongo family on August 30.
Nguema also announced on state television the suspension of all state institutions, a measure he explained to be a temporary one.
However, he did not give any specific concrete steps nor give a timetable for new elections.
A spokesman for the junta leader later said later that Gabon’s borders had been reopened with immediate effect.
The military initially closed all land, sea and air borders after the overthrow on August 30 and Nguema, the head of the presidential guard, was then named the new ruler.
Four days earlier, Bongo was elected for a third term, according to official results which the coup leaders later annulled, claiming they were falsified.
The Bongo family, which has ruled autocratically for more than 50 years, has long been accused of corruption.
Gabon’s population of about 2.3 million people lives mostly in poverty despite the country’s oil wealth.
