General Brice Oligui Nguema is sworn-in as Gabon’s interim president during a September 4, 2023, ceremony in Libreville, the nation’s capital. General Nguema seized power August 30 after the military overthrew the incumbent president, Ali Bongo Ondimba, in the former French colony region in West and Central Africa. Photo: OSV News/Reuters Ngala Killian Chimtom While acknowledging that a recent wave of military takeovers across Africa often have drawn strong popular support as an expression of “deep-seated frustration” over corruption and injustice, the continent’s Catholic bishops nevertheless have reaffirmed their support for democracy and opposition to coups. “There might be queries regarding our stance on coups d’etat. Principally,…
