Military declares coup in Gabon after Ali Bongo wins disputed election

A group of senior Gabonese military officers has taken control of the nation, asserting that the recently held general election lacked credibility.

The officers appeared on national television, proclaiming to represent all of Gabon’s security and defense forces.

The abrupt upheaval has sent shockwaves through the nation, with their televised appearance being followed by the sound of gunfire echoing in the capital city, Libreville.

The military officers have declared the annulment of the election results, shut down all borders until further notice, and dissolved state institutions.

Their bold assertion comes just days after the incumbent president, Ali Bongo, was declared the winner of a controversial third term in the presidential election. Bongo secured 64.27% of the vote, as declared by the Gabonese election center.

This election had been marred by delays and accusations of fraud from the opposition, further fanning the flames of discontent.

The officers’ televised statement voiced their commitment to defending peace by dismantling what they called the “current regime.” The lack of immediate government response to their takeover has deepened the sense of uncertainty prevailing in the nation.

Ali Bongo’s main challenger, Albert Ondo Ossa, who secured 30.77% of the vote, had alleged electoral irregularities.

Bongo’s team vehemently rejected these claims. Tensions were already running high following the election, as Bongo aimed to extend his family’s long-standing hold on power, while the opposition rallied for transformative change in the resource-rich yet economically challenged nation.

International concerns about the transparency of the electoral process were exacerbated by the absence of international observers, suspension of foreign broadcasts, internet service shutdown, and the imposition of a nationwide nighttime curfew in the aftermath of the election. These factors had raised questions about the fairness of the electoral proceedings.