A group of high-ranking military officers in Gabon, a West African nation, made a public announcement on Wednesday that they were putting an end to the current regime and nullifying the results of national elections. This statement came shortly after President Ali Bongo Ondima was declared the winner of another term in office by the country’s election authority.
According to the coup leaders, Bongo has been placed under house arrest, surrounded by his family and doctors, while one of his sons has been arrested for treason. Bongo has been in power for 14 tumultuous years, following in the footsteps of his father who ruled the country for over four decades. It was reported that the area around Bongo’s residence in the capital city, Libreville, appeared calm, although gunfire was heard elsewhere during the officers’ announcement.
In a video aired repeatedly on state TV after the soldiers’ declaration, Brice Oligui Nguema, the head of Gabon’s Republican Guard, was seen being held up and paraded through the streets while fellow soldiers chanted “Oligui president.”
Meanwhile, an unverified video recorded inside the presidential residence and shared on social media showed a man claiming to be Bongo pleading for help. He stated that he and his family had been arrested, with his son in an undisclosed location and his wife elsewhere. Bongo expressed confusion about the situation.
If successful, this coup attempt in Gabon would be the eighth in West and Central Africa since 2020, following similar actions in Niger, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Chad.
In their announcement, the military officers declared the dissolution of all institutions of the republic, including the government, Senate, National Assembly, and Constitutional Court. They also announced the closure of the country’s borders until further notice. The officers claimed that the August 26 election did not meet the criteria for a transparent, credible, and inclusive ballot, as desired by the people of Gabon.
The army revealed that internet access in the country had been restored after a three-day blackout enforced by Bongo’s government to prevent the spread of what they referred to as “false news.” The national broadcasting authority had also banned several French channels, accusing them of biased election coverage.
The recent elections in Gabon took place without election observers. Bongo’s main rival, Ondo Ossa, who reportedly won 30% of the vote, accused Bongo of fraud and claimed he was the true winner. However, he provided no evidence to support his claims.
The attempted coup in Gabon has garnered international reactions. France, the former colonial power, condemned the coup, and the African Union strongly condemned the attempted coup d’état. The White House expressed deep concern and pledged to support democratic ideals. The US Embassy in Libreville confirmed the safety of its personnel and the small number of US troops in the country. China called for Bongo’s safety to be guaranteed, while Russia expressed deep concern and is closely monitoring the situation.
In conclusion, the coup attempt in Gabon has brought political turmoil to the country, following disputed election results and a significant power struggle. The international community, including France, the US, China, and Russia, has expressed concern and called for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
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