The coup leader in Gabon, General Brice Oligui Nguema, took the constitutional oath on Monday before the Constitutional Court as the interim president of the country for the transitional phase in front of several army officers and senior state officials.

Army officers led by Nguema seized power on August 30, just minutes after the announcement of President Bongo's victory for a third term in the elections, a result that the coup declared to be lacking in credibility.

Summary of Nguema's speech after the inauguration:

The results of the presidential elections were "distorted."

▪︎The army is responsible for establishing security and peace in the country.

▪︎The previous authorities violated all our electoral rights.

▪︎The Republican Guard refused to allow the country to continue in its previous state.

▪︎The people demand their rights through effective institutions.

▪︎The security forces sided with the people.

▪︎We will work on a new constitution through a referendum and a new national assembly.

▪︎Unity is a key condition to ensure freedoms.

▪︎We will announce a new government within days whose mission will be reform and achieving security.

▪︎We will continue to fulfill our role within international commitments and agreements.

▪︎We will review the conditions for granting citizenship in Gabon.

▪︎We will issue a pardon for all prisoners in the country.

▪︎We will work on repatriating all political refugees to the country.

The coup, the eighth in West and Central Africa within three years, which ended the 56-year rule of the Bongo family, attracted jubilant crowds in the streets of the capital, Libreville, but was met with condemnation from abroad.

Leaders of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) are also scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss their response to the ousting of Ali Bongo.

They urged last week partners led by the United Nations and the African Union to support a swift return to constitutional order.

The military council has not yet mentioned the duration for which it expects to hold power.