Following the announcement from the Gabonese Election Centre, CGE, that the incumbent President, Ali Bongo won last Saturday’s election with 64.27 per cent of the votes, Gabonese military officers have seized power in the Central African nation.
According to official results announced early Wednesday by Michel Stéphane Bonda, the head of Gabon’s electoral commission, Bongo, who has been in power for 14 years, defeated Albert Ondo Ossa, his main challenger who polled only 30.77 per cent of the votes.
Twelve other candidates took part in the presidential race.
Ossa had alleged electoral irregularities during last weekend’s polls, but Bongo’s team dismissed the allegations.
Shortly after the election results were announced, a group of 12 military officers appeared on national television to announce that Bongo had been unseated to put the country “on the road to happiness.”
“The organisation of the general elections of 26 August 2023 did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon,” one of the soldiers said, speaking on the Gabon 24 TV channel.
“Added to this is irresponsible and unpredictable governance, resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion, with the risk of leading the country into chaos.
“Today, 30 August 2023, we — the defence and security forces, gathered as the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) on behalf of the people of Gabon and as guarantors of the institutions’ protection — have decided to defend the peace by putting an end to the current regime.”
The soldiers also announced the cancellation of the results of the general election, the closure of borders and the dissolution of all national institutions.
“To this end, the general elections of 26 August 2023 and the truncated results are canceled. The borders are closed until further notice,” the soldier said.
“All the institutions of the Republic are dissolved: the government, the Senate, the National Assembly, the Constitutional Court, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council and the Gabonese Elections Centre.”
The coup leaders said the ousted president is under house arrest, surrounded by his family and doctors, and one of his sons has been arrested for “treason”.
