Albert Ondo Ossa, the opposition candidate in Gabon, has charged the country’s military to allow the conclusion of the August 26th election and declare him a legitimate president.  

 Mr Ossa made this demand when asked why he congratulated the military for ousting President Ali Bongo and what he wants from the military in an interview with Le Monde on Friday. 

  “I’m asking it (military) to restore republican and constitutional order,” said Mr Ossa.

  “The electoral process must be brought to a conclusion, and the results must be announced so that I can become the legitimate president and then the legal president once they have been validated by the Constitutional Court.”  

The candidate for the Alternance 2023 opposition platform, Mr Ossa further said “I have no doubts about my victory. Everyone has the results, including the diplomatic missions.” 

 In the early hours of Wednesday, military officers ousted President Ali Bongo from office and appointed one of their own, General Brice Nguema as transitional president.   

Mr Bongo had been in power since 2009 when he took over from his father Omar Bongo, who ruled the country for over 40 years. He was toppled shortly after he was controversially declared winner of another election that would have seen him stay in office for the third term.    

Wednesday’s coup ended the 53-year reign of the Bongo family in Gabon, eliciting celebration among citizens. 

  Speaking from detention, Mr Bongo called for help, asking friends and international communities to “make noise,” raising the alarm about development in his country.   

International communities have condemned Mr Bongo’s ouster with the African Union suspending Gabon.