Head of Gabon's elite Republican Guard, General Brice Oligui Nguema, right, is decorated by Gabon Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie Bie Nze in Libreville on Aug. 16, 2023, ahead of Gabon Independence Day. [Via VOA]
The leader of a coup that this week overthrew Gabon's President Ali Bongo said Friday that he wanted to avoid rushing into elections that "repeat past mistakes," as pressure mounted on the junta to hand back power to a civilian government.