National Liberation Day in Gabon Date in the current year: August 30, 2024

Gabon is a country in Central Africa that gained independence from France in 1960. The country’s first elected president, Léon M’ba, consolidated power by suppressing press and political demonstrations, curtailing freedom of expression, and gradually excluding other political parties from power. In 1964, he was briefly ousted in a coup, but France helped to restore M’ba to power.

When M’Ba died from cancer in 1967, he was succeeded by vice president Omar Bongo, who soon declared Gabon a one-party state and ruled the country for 42 years despite opposition to his rule and several political crises caused by fraudulent elections. He managed to retain his power even after the introduction of a multi-party system in the 1990s. Following Bongo’s death in June 2009, he was succeeded by Rose Francine Rogombé as acting president.

The first presidential election in Gabon to not feature Omar Bongo as a candidate was held in August 2009. It was won by his son Ali Bongo, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, member of the National Assembly, and Minister of Defense during his father’s presidency. The new president was sworn in on October 16, 2009. Some opposition candidates met his victory with skepticism, and there were sporadic protests across the country.

In 2016, Ali Bongo was reelected for a second term in an election marred by numerous irregularities, fraud allegations, human rights violations, and arrests. Following the announcement of Bongo’s victory, protests broke out in Libreville. At least five people died in armed clashes between protesters and the police, and around 1,100 people were arrested.

In 2019, members of the Armed Forces of Gabon attempted to oust Bongo, but the coup failed. Bongo ran for re-election for a third term in 2023 and was declared the winner on August 30. Minutes after the announcement, soldiers of the Armed Forces of Gabon led by high-ranking officers seized control of key government buildings and communication channels. They announced the ousting of Bongo in a televised address and arrested the president, his eldest son and advisor, and several key government officials.

After the coup, the military junta installed Commander-in-Chief of the Republican Guard Brice Oligui Nguema as interim president. Even though Nuema is Ali Bongo’s cousin and thus can be considered a part of the Bongo family, the 2023 coup is thought to have brought an end to the rule of the Bongo family over Gabon that lasted for 56 years.

In January 2024, the government of Gabon designated August 30 as National Liberation Day to commemorate the 2023 coup. The main goal of the holiday is to highlight the importance of the coup and celebrate the country’s liberation from the rule of the Bongo family.