A national Television broadcast in Gabon, reports on Wednesday morning, August 30, that a military junta has taken over the government and declared a coup in the country. This is following the election result which shows that the incumbent President, Ali Bongo Ondimba, is winning the election for the third time consecutively.
According to the military broadcast, Bongo winning the election for the third time means it was not a credible exercise. Therefore, they declared the election null, ousted the sitting president and his cabinets and closed the country borders.
This coup, according to them, is in defense of the Gabonese, whom they are obliged to protect.
“…in the name of the Gabonese people … we have decided to defend the peace by putting an end to the current regime,” the broadcast reads.
Tension and anxiety has held the Gabonese people down since the Saturday election.
With their network shut down and a declaration of curfew, everyone is afraid of what the military would do next.
There has also been ceaseless shuts of gun in the State capital, Libreville.
Note that Gabonese Election Centre announced that the incumbent president, Bongo had about 64.27% of the entire vote, against his opponent, Albert Ondo Ossa, who had just 30.77%. Bongo contested under Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), the party founded by his father, Omar Bongo.
Gabon Presidential position seems to have not left the family to Bongo, since 1967. Ali’s father, Omar Bongo, led Gabon from 1967 to 2009.
After his death, his son, Ali, who was then the defence minister, took his place as president and has been in power ever since. This is remotely the cause of the military agitation and eventual coup.
The Gabon coup is the second coup in Africa in 2023. Recall that Niger Military junta also overthrew the sitting president and declared state of emergency in the country since July.
Read also: Niger Junta Vows To Execute Bazoum For Treason
More details to coming…