Coup: Gabon in Turmoil as Military Seizes Power After Disputed Election

Gabon is facing a political crisis as a group of senior military officers announced a coup on Wednesday, following the re-election of President Ali Bongo for a third term. The coup leaders said they were acting on behalf of the Gabonese people, who they claimed were dissatisfied with the election results and the state of the nation.

The officers, who identified themselves as the Patriotic Movement of the Defence and Security Forces of Gabon, appeared on the national TV channel Gabon 24, wearing military uniforms and holding guns.

They declared that they had seized control of key government buildings, communication channels, and strategic points within the capital Libreville. They also said they had cancelled the election results, closed all borders, and dissolved all state institutions.

“In the name of the Gabonese people… we have decided to defend the peace by putting an end to the current regime,” they said.

The soldiers called on the people to join them in a “national restoration council” to form a new government that would respect the constitution and the will of the people.

The coup came after the Gabonese election centre announced that Bongo had won 64.27% of the vote, while his main challenger, Albert Ondo Ossa, had 30.77%. Ondo Ossa and other opposition candidates had denounced the election as fraudulent and called for a recount. They accused Bongo of rigging the vote, intimidating voters, and barring foreign observers and journalists from monitoring the process.

Bongo, who has been in power since 2009, is the son of Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon for 42 years until his death in 2009. The Bongo family has dominated Gabonese politics since 1967, when Omar Bongo became president after a coup that ousted his predecessor. The Bongos have maintained close ties with France, Gabon’s former colonial ruler, and have amassed a vast fortune from the country’s oil wealth.

However, Gabon has also been plagued by poverty, inequality, corruption, and social unrest. According to the World Bank, about one-third of Gabon’s population lives below the poverty line, despite having one of the highest per capita incomes in Africa. The country also ranks 123rd out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.

The coup in Gabon is the latest in a series of military takeovers in West and Central Africa since 2020. According to Reuters, there have been eight coups or attempted coups in the region in the past three years, including in Mali, Guinea, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Sudan. These coups have raised concerns about the stability and democracy of these countries, as well as their impact on regional security and development.

The international community has condemned the coup in Gabon and called for a peaceful resolution of the crisis. The African Union, the United Nations, France, and the United States have all issued statements rejecting any unconstitutional change of power and urging respect for human rights and the rule of law. They have also called for dialogue between all stakeholders and for calm among the population.

The situation in Gabon remains tense and uncertain, as reports of gunfire and clashes between pro- and anti-coup forces have emerged from Libreville. The whereabouts and status of President Bongo and his government are unknown at this time. It is unclear whether the coup leaders have widespread support from the military and the public, or whether they will face resistance from loyalist forces or regional actors.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.