As President Ali Bongo has just been ousted by a group of military personnel shortly after the announcement of the presidential election results, singer Créol has found herself at the center of a heated controversy on the internet due to an action that has angered her followers.
The Gabonese political scene is in turmoil following the contested reelection of Ali Bongo for a third presidential term, quickly followed by a coup that overthrew the incumbent regime. A group of Gabonese military personnel announced the annulment of the elections and the dissolution of the Republic’s institutions. This military intervention marks the end of an era of over half a century of governance by the Bongo dynasty.
In this tense context, singer Créol sparked a strong reaction by changing her cover photo on social media to display the Gabonese flag accompanied by the caption “Peace in Gabon”. This post by the artist, known for her unwavering support of the former regime, triggered a wave of criticism from her followers and Gabonese internet users in general.
Indeed, the gesture of the artist, who openly supported the former regime during election campaigns, provoked a hostile response from her followers. Some internet users accused the singer of supporting a regime deemed undemocratic and corrupt, while others expressed their joy at the overthrow of the incumbent power. Comments such as “This is shameful, Long live the Gabonese army, Finally Gabon is liberated,” “Get out, national snitch,” “Don’t even think you’re going to distract anyone here” can be seen among others. At the same time, some even called for mass reporting of her account.
It is worth recalling that Créol is one of the Gabonese celebrities who openly supported Ali Bongo during election campaigns: “My candidate is Ali Bongo. I think the PDG [Democratic Party of Gabon] will win, everyone has the right to choose their candidate. When they announce that Ali Bongo has won, you will come out of your hiding places,” she had declared in a live video on her Facebook page.
