Senior officials in Gabon appeared on national television after the announcement of the presidential election results
In a shocking move, senior military officials from Gabon appeared on television and stated that they had seized power. According to the results, Bongo had secured a third win in this election.
The officials appeared on the Gabon 24 television channel. They stated that they are the complete representatives of the security and defense forces in Gabon. The officials further claim that the election results are irrelevant and that all borders will remain closed until further notice. They also shut down state institutions.
Libreville, the capital of Gabon, underwent a gunfire exchange. According to sources, the gunfire started after the television appearance. The country has not yet released an official statement regarding the new changes. President Bongo has yet to appear in public. His last appearance is on Saturday.
The statement is composed of addresses to the nation and calls to end the current regime for the greater good. The officers claim they are a part of the Committee on Transition and the Restoration of Institutions.
The dissolved state institutions include the government, senate, national assembly, constitutional court, and election committee.
Gabon Military Coup: Success or Failure?
If the military coup in Gabon is successful, it would be the eighth in Central and West Africa. The region has seen seven coups since 2020.
There have been grave concerns regarding the political scenario since the elections. Due to the lack of foreign broadcasts and correspondence, there were concerns regarding the legitimacy and transparency of the election.
President Bongo had previously foiled a coup in 2019. In 2018, he suffered a stroke while soldiers seized a radio station and announced that he was unfit to govern. The deaths of two coup plotters and the arrests of others resolved the crisis.