- Military revealed why they took over power in Gabon
There has been reports of coup d’etat in West African Gabon as Gabonese military claimed to have seized power, following the re-election of President Ali Bongo.
AbaCityBlog reports that President Ali Bongo has won a third term in the presidential election with 64.27% of the vote, the Gabonese Election Centre (CGE) announced on Wednesday.
Announcing the result in the early hours, CGE head Michel Stephane Bonda said Bongo’s main challenger, Albert Ondo Ossa, had come in second place with 30.77%. Bongo’s team have rejected Ondo Ossa’s allegations of electoral irregularities.
Following the announcement of Bongo’s third time bid, tensions are running high amid fears of unrest after the Saturday’s presidential, which saw Bongo seeking to extend his family’s 56-year grip on power while the opposition pushed for change in the oil-rich but poverty-stricken Central African nation.
In a latest development aired by Skynews, sounds of gunfire could be heard in the capital Libreville in the early hours of Wednesday, Reuters reports.
https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1696748135182151706?t=rsKeesy2S24CT684-r3Wog&s=19
Watch the moment Military announced seized power in Gabon.
#Gabon After the announce of the fraudulent electoral results declaring Ali Bongo as winner, the Gabonese army has seized control of the country and has called for the dissolution of all institutions. pic.twitter.com/w6PGfB4oZZ
— Elle Vit Belle (She/Her) (@ElvineBelinda) August 30, 2023
Why we took over power — Gabon army
A speech read by military officer flanked by a group of a dozen army colonels, members of the elite Republican Guard, regular soldiers and others, has revealed why they took over power in Gabon.
The address read: “Today, the country is going through a serious institutional, political, economic and social crisis.”
“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 until further notice”.
