Top military officers seized power in Gabon

 

Following the recent development in Gabon 12 top military officers have seized power from democratically elected president Ali Bongo. One of the officers said all the institutions of the republic had been dissolved while announcing and cancelling of the election result. 

The statement was read by a group of 12 Gabonese army colonels, members of the elite Republican Guard and some other military officers. This event took off shortly after the national election authority alleged that Ali Bongo had won a third (3) term on the Saturday’s election with a gap of 64.27 percent of the vote count. 

Mean while, it was also disclosed that Ali Bongo has been in power for fourteen (14) years in the oil-rich West African country.

A STATEMENT READ ON LIVE BROADCAST: 

“Today, the country is going through a serious institutional, political, economic and social crisis, the officer said on TV channel Gabon 24.

He added that the recent election did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon.

We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime, the officer said, 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”

“All the institutions of the republic are dissolved: the government, the Senate, the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court, all borders are closed until further notice.”

According to the results issued prior to the officers’ announcement, Bongo’s main rival Albert Ondo Ossa won just 30.77 percent of the vote.

There were controversies of the election being rigged Before polls closed on Saturday, Ondo Ossa had accused Bongo of “fraud” while claiming he was the rightful winner.

However, while the election result was under way, Ali Bongo’s government imposed a curfew and a nationwide internet shutdown to prevent the spread of possible “false news” and possible violence.

On Monday, Ondo Ossa’s campaign manager Mike Jocktane called on Ali Bongo to peacefully hand over power to him “without bloodshed”, insisting that a partial count shows that Ondo Ossa is clearly ahead, without providing any proof.

Gabonese law forbids any publication of partial results pending the final result which only the Gabonese Elections Centre, the body that organises the polls, is legally allowed to publish.

Although there was no reported deaths yet while the pronouncement was made and the country is Calm at the moment until further notice.