This video grab taken from Gabon 24 shows Gabonese soldiers appearing on television on August 30, 2023 announcing they were "putting an end to the current regime" and the cancellation of an election that, according to official results, President Ali Bongo Ondimba won. - During the announcement, AFP journalists heard gunfire ring out in the Gabonese capital, Libreville. While announcing the cancellation of the results one of the soldiers announced the dissolution of "all the institutions of the republic". "We have decided to defend 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". Among the soldiers were members of the Republican Guard as well as soldiers of the regular army and police officers. (Photo by - / Gabon 24 / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / GABON 24" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / GABON 24" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS /
On Wednesday, August 30, 2023, senior Gabonese military officers declared their assumption of power in the resource-rich Central African nation. The announcement was made on state television shortly after the Gabonese electoral body had announced President Ali Bongo’s supposed victory for a third consecutive term, securing 64 percent of the vote.
Citing concerns over the nation’s deteriorating social cohesion due to what they described as “unpredictable and irresponsible governance,” which they believed could plunge the country into chaos, one of the military officers stated their intention to safeguard peace by ending the current regime. This announcement was broadcast on the Gabon 24 TV channel.
In addition to seizing power, the military officers nullified the election results and implemented the closure of all borders until further notice. They also dissolved state institutions. President Bongo’s bid for a third term would have extended his family’s longstanding control over the nation; he had succeeded his father, Omar Bongo, who held the presidency from 1967 until his passing in 2009.
Opposition factions contested the election outcome, alleging fraud, particularly given the announcement of President Bongo’s substantial 64 percent win. Leading up to the election, concerns had arisen about the potential for post-election violence due to entrenched grievances within the population of approximately 2.5 million. The World Bank reported that nearly 40 percent of Gabonese individuals aged 15 to 24 were unemployed in 2020, highlighting socioeconomic tensions.
In the midst of these developments, access to the internet which was curtailed in the build-up to the election, has been partially restored. France has said they are closely following the coup and China has called for the safety of President Bongo who is under house arrest.
The Gabon seizure of power is the most recent addition to a series of coups occurring in recent years. It emerged only a month following a military takeover in Niger. The year 2022 witnessed two coups in Burkina Faso, alongside unsuccessful coup endeavors in Guinea Bissau, The Gambia, and the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe.
Throughout 2021, Africa experienced a total of six coup attempts, out of which four were accomplished successfully.
Source: Sky News