Gabonese military seizes power after President Ali Bongo wins third term in elections

Gabon soldiers on Wednesday (30 August) appeared on television and declared that they were "putting an end to the current regime". They also announced the cancellation of a poll that as per the results, was won by President Ali Bongo Ondimba.

Military officers appeared on national television and declared they were seizing power, prompting some scenes of celebration in the Gabonese capital, Libreville and reports of gunfire on the streets of the capital.

The announcement came minutes after the election body of the oil rich stateannounced that President Ali Bongo had won a third term, extending his family’s half-century rule over the Central African nation.

As per news agency AFP reports, gunfires were heard in the Gabonese capital, Libreville at the time the announcement was being made.Thesoldiers said the election results stand cancelled, andall borders closed until further notice.

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While announcing the cancellation of the results one of the soldiers said "all the institutions of the republic" had been dissolved.

"We have decided to defend the peace by putting an end to the current regime,"one of the soldiers said on TV channel Gabon 24, adding that he was speaking on behalf of the "Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions".

"To this end, the general elections of 26 August 2023 and the truncated results are cancelled," he added.

"All the institutions of the republic are dissolved: the government, the Senate, the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court," he added, announcing the closure of the country's borders "until further notice".

The soldiers who made the announcement included members of the Republican Guard as well as soldiers of the regular army and police officers.

The statement was also broadcast on Gabon 1 public television, according to news agency AFP.

TheGabon coup would be the eighth in West and Central Africa since 2020. The latest one, in Niger, was in July. Military hasalready seized power in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Chad.

Gabon elections

The announcement by the soldiers came shortly after the national election authority said that Bongo had won a third term in the elections that were held on Saturday (26 August) with 64.27 per cent of the vote.

As per the results, Bongo's rival, Albert Ondo Ossa, had won 30.77 per cent of the votes.

Ondo Ossa had condemned "fraud orchestrated by the Bongo camp", claiming victory ahead of the closure of polls.

Ondo Ossa's campaign manager Mike Jocktane, on Monday (28 August), called on Bongo to hand over power "without bloodshed", insisting a partial count had Ondo Ossa clearly ahead, without providing any evidence.

(With inputs from agencies)

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