A group of senior Gabonese military officers have taken power in the country, minutes after the state election body announced President Ali Bongo had won a third term. The officers said they have dissolved all state institutions and closed the borders.
There is no immediate comment from the government or Bongo, who was last seen in public when he cast his vote in the election on Saturday. The coup is the latest in a string of military takeovers in West and Central Africa in recent years.
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Tensions were running high in Gabon amid fears of unrest after Saturday’s election, which saw Bongo seeking to extend his family’s 56-year grip on power. The government has said the web blackout and curfew are necessary to prevent the spread of fake news and to protect public safety. The opposition has disputed both of Bongo’s previous electoral victories, citing fraud.
Here are some additional details:
- The military officers who took power have introduced themselves as members of The Committee of Transition and the Restoration of Institutions.
- They said they decided to take action “in the name of the Gabonese people” to “defend the peace by putting an end to the current regime.”
- The officers have not yet made any public statements about their plans for the country.
- The coup has been condemned by the African Union and the European Union.
- The United Nations has called for calm and urged all parties to respect the rule of law.
The situation in Gabon is currently very fluid and it is unclear what will happen next. The coup is a major setback for democracy in the country and it could have implications for the region as a whole. – (Inputs Reuters)
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