Coup: Military officers take over in Gabon, nullify Ali Bongo’s third term re-election

The military in Gabon has announced seizing power in the early hours of Wednesday.

The military officers appeared on national television to make the announcement

They declared that they had assumed control following the announcement by the state election body that President Ali Bongo had secured a third term.

Taking the stage on Gabon 24, the state’s television network, the officers conveyed that they were acting on behalf of all security and defence forces within the Central African nation.

Their message encompassed the nullification of the election results, the immediate closure of borders until further notice, and the dissolution of state institutions.

Reporters from Reuters noted the audible echoes of gunfire reverberating through the capital city, Libreville, after the televised address.

At this point, the government of the OPEC-member country had not issued an immediate response.

With a pledge “in the name of the Gabonese people,” the officers conveyed their resolve to safeguard peace by terminating the existing regime.

Tensions had escalated significantly, driven by concerns of potential unrest subsequent to the recent presidential, parliamentary, and legislative elections.

President Bongo aimed to prolong his family’s 56-year hold on power, while the opposition championed change in the resource-rich yet impoverished nation, reliant on oil and cocoa.

Doubts about the transparency of the electoral process had emerged due to the absence of international observers, the suspension of select foreign broadcasts, and the government’s actions, including cutting off internet access and implementing a nationwide curfew post-election.