The leaders behind the Gabon coup announced on Wednesday, August 30, the appointment of a transitional president who is a general. This takeover occurred in the aftermath of contentious elections, where President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family had held power for 55 years, was declared the victor amid disputes.
Bongo, 64, who took over from his father Omar in 2009, was placed under house arrest and one of his sons arrested for treason, the coup leaders said.
In a dramatic pre-dawn address, a group of officers declared “all the institutions of the republic” had been dissolved, the election results cancelled and the borders closed.
The coup announcement came just moments after the national election authority declared Bongo had won a third term in Saturday’s election with 64.27 percent of the vote.
The authorities at the weekend imposed a curfew, which on Wednesday was extended until further notice, and shut down the internet nationwide. The internet was restored on Wednesday morning after the TV address.
Several French media outlets, whose outputs had been suspended during the tumultuous period following the election, were permitted to resume according to a statement read on Gabon 24 Wednesday.
The White House said it was closely watching the situation, while the AU said it “strongly condemns” the claimed takeover as a violation of its charter.
Russia said it was “deeply concerned” by the situation, while China called for “all sides” in Gabon to guarantee Bongo’s safety.
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Khalil Wakim, with AFP
