Gabon’s coup leader vowed after being sworn in as interim president on Monday to restore civilian rule through “free, transparent and credible elections” after a transition and amnesty prisoners of conscience.
In a speech after taking the oath of office, General Brice Oligui Nguema said the elections would be the stepping stone to “handing power back to the civilians,” although he did not give a timeline.
Oligui said he was seeking the participation of all of Gabon’s “core groups” to draft a new constitution, which “will be adopted by referendum.”
He also said he would be instructing “the future government… to consider ways of amnestying prisoners of conscience” and “facilitating the return of all exiles” from abroad.