A faction of senior military officials has utilized the national broadcasting platform in Gabon to declare a seizure of power, citing their concerns over the lack of credibility in the recently held weekend elections.
During the early hours of Wednesday on Gabon 24, the officers made a televised appearance, revealing their actions which involved the nullification of the election results, the dissolution of all governmental institutions, and the imposition of border closures. Representing the collective security and defense forces of Gabon, they asserted that their intervention was imperative in light of the perceived shortcomings in the electoral process.
This declaration closely followed the announcement by the nation's election commission that President Ali Bongo Ondimba had achieved a third term in office, a victory disputed by opponents due to alleged irregularities.
"In the interest of the Gabonese populace... we have opted to safeguard peace by terminating the existing regime," the officers proclaimed.
According to the Gabonese Election Centre, President Bongo secured 64.27 percent of the total votes, while his primary rival, Albert Ondo Ossa, obtained 30.77 percent. However, this electoral process was plagued by delays and uncertainties, which now further surround the military's intervention.
Commenting on the situation, analysts noted the high tension and the military leaders' assertion that the government had disregarded the will of the Gabonese people for an extended period, necessitating change.
The day of the election witnessed the opposition accusing President Bongo of engineering a fraudulent outcome, especially after the imposition of an internet blackout and a curfew. French media outlets France 24, RFI, and TV5 Monde faced bans for their alleged biased coverage of the ongoing elections.
Given the internet shutdown and curfew, communication within Gabon remains severely constrained, and people are grappling with a lack of access to crucial information about the rapidly evolving scenario.
President Bongo, a candidate from the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) established by his late father Omar Bongo, who ruled the nation from 1967 to 2009, has sparked uncertainty about his whereabouts since the military's intervention. The rapid pace of unfolding events has left many in a state of uncertainty.
The election day had already been marked by heightened tensions as the opposition fervently pushed for a transformation and the cessation of the Bongo family's longstanding control over Gabon.
Subsequent to the military's proclamation, reports from Reuters and AFP indicated the sound of gunfire resonating in Libreville, the capital city of Gabon.
The situation remains fluid and rapidly evolving, promising further updates in the near future.
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