Africa | Tuesday, June 3, 2026 — 08:15 AM Libreville time
LIBREVILLE — Military officers detained President Brice Oligui Nguema at the presidential palace Tuesday and declared the formation of a transition authority, according to statements from armed forces commanders broadcast on national radio. The announcement ends Oligui’s 14-month rule following his own coup that ousted the Ali Bongo Ondimba dynasty in 2023.
A group of officers identifying themselves as the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions said in a radio address that President Oligui had been “placed in a secure location” and that all international borders were closed “until further notice.” The statement did not specify who would lead the transition authority. Witnesses in Libreville reported heavy military vehicle movement on major thoroughfares and the sound of gunfire near the palace complex in the early morning hours.
Gabon’s state broadcaster cut its programming mid-morning and replaced it with military music. All international flights at Libreville’s Léon M’ba International Airport were suspended. Telecommunications networks experienced intermittent outages across the capital, limiting the flow of information from affected areas.
The African Union and ECOWAS issued joint statements expressing “deep concern” and calling for the immediate release of the president. France, Gabon’s former colonial ruler and a key security partner, said it was “following the situation closely.” Gabon produces roughly 870,000 barrels of oil per day, and any prolonged instability could affect output in the short term.