COUP: Gabon’s military officers have reportedly announced their takeover of the government on the country’s national television.
They said that the results of Saturday’s election, in which President Ali Bongo was declared the victor, would be overturned and thrown out.
In an election that the opposition said was rigged, the electoral commission announced that Mr. Bongo had won slightly less than two-thirds of the votes cast.
If he were to be deposed, it would bring an end to his family’s 53-year reign over Gabon.
Despite the fact that approximately 90% of the country is covered by forests, Gabon is one of the most important oil producers in Africa.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, twelve soldiers made an appearance on television and announced that they would be nullifying the results of the election and dissolving “all the institutions of the republic.”
They went on to say that the borders of the country have been sealed “until further notice.”
If reports are accurate, this would mark the ninth military takeover in what were formerly French possessions in Africa during the course of the last three years.
Another Coup hits Africa
On the other hand, the majority of the others have taken place far further north, in the Sahel region. There, an Islamist insurgency has led to an increase in accusations that the democratically elected governments are failing to safeguard the civilian populations.
The soldiers claimed that they were with the Committee of Transition and the Restoration of Institutions and that they were there to represent the country’s various security and defense forces.
On the television station Gabon 24, one of the soldiers made the following statement: “We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime.”
He went on to say that this was due to “irresponsible and unpredictable governance,” which has led to a “continuing deterioration in social cohesion that risks leading the country into chaos.”
After the broadcast, residents of the nation’s capital, Libreville, reported hearing the sounds of intense gunfire in the area.
According to the editor of BBC World Service Africa, Will Ross, this indicates that the revolution may not be “done and dusted” yet and that there will be some resistance.
There was no immediate response from the administration to the revelation made by the troops, and it is uncertain where Mr. Bongo is currently located.
Internet access was temporarily restricted after the election on Saturday due to security concerns; however, it was reinstated not long after the apparent seizure of the government. In addition, there is a bedtime for residents.
The method of voting on Saturday in Gabon’s general election raised significant concerns, as it had in the country’s previous general elections.
Albert Ondo Ossa, the main opposition candidate, expressed his frustration that many polling locations did not have vote papers displaying his name. At the same time, the coalition that he represents stated that the names of several of those who withdrew from the presidential contest remained on the ballot sheet.
Reporters Without Borders, an advocacy organization, said that members of the international media had been prevented from entering the country in order to cover the election.
On Saturday, the election that the opposition said was rigged was proclaimed to have been won by Ali Bongo.
Both of Mr. Bongo’s prior victories have been called into question due to allegations of fraud by his competitors. This time, contentious alterations were made to voting papers in the weeks leading up to election day.
After the passing of his father, Omar, in 2009, Mr. Bongo ascended to the throne.
In 2018, he had a stroke, which rendered him unable to work for about a year and led to calls for him to stand down from his position.
The following year witnessed another failed attempt at a coup, which resulted in the imprisonment of mutinous soldiers.