Coup: Why did we seize power — Gabon army

On Wednesday, military officers announced the overthrow of the Gabonese government, in an apparent coup against President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who has been in power for 14 years and whose re-election was recently announced.

The whereabouts of Ali Bongo, whose family has dominated the oil-rich African country for nearly 55 years, were unknown, although the neighbourhood around his mansion appeared to be peaceful.

During the officers’ televised announcement of the cancellation of the election results, one of the officers stated that “all the institutions of the republic” had been disbanded.

An officer read the address, who was surrounded by a dozen army colonels, members of the elite Republican Guard, regular soldiers, and others.

It came just moments after the national election authority announced that Bongo, 64, had won a third term with 64.27 percent of the vote in Saturday’s poll.

Bongo has been in charge for 14 years, having been elected in 2009 after his father, who had controlled the country for 41 years, died.

The statement came during an overnight curfew and a nationwide internet ban imposed by Bongo’s government as voting ended on Saturday to prevent the dissemination of “false news” and probable violence.

After the TV address, the internet was restored on Wednesday morning.

“Today, the country is going through a serious institutional, political, economic, and social crisis,” the officer stated on Gabon 24 television.

He stated that the recent election “did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible, and inclusive ballot that the people of Gabon had hoped for.”

“We have decided to defend peace by bringing the current regime to an end,” the officer added, adding that he was speaking on behalf of the “Committee for Transition and Restoration of Institutions.”

“As a result, the general elections on August 26, 2023, and the truncated results,” he continued.

‘Fraud’ allegation
“All republican institutions have been dissolved: the government, the Senate, the National Assembly, and the Constitutional Court,” he continued, before declaring the country’s borders closed “until further notice.”

Bongo and his major competitor, Albert Ondo Ossa, led a field of 14 contenders for the presidency of the oil-rich Central African state.

According to the results released prior to the announcement of the officers, Ondo Ossa received only 30.77 percent of the vote.

He accused Bongo of “fraud” before the polls closed on Saturday, insisting he was the genuine winner.

Ondo Ossa’s campaign manager, Mike Jocktane, called on Bongo to hand over power “without bloodshed” on Monday, claiming that a partial count showed Ondo Ossa clearly ahead but offering no proof.

Gabon’s presidential, legislative, and municipal elections were held without the presence of election monitors.

The country’s broadcasting authority had also temporarily suspended the French networks France 24, Radio France Internationale (RFI), and TV5Monde, accusing them of “a lack of objectivity and balance” in their election coverage.

Gabonese law prohibits the publication of partial results before the final result, which can only be published by the Gabonese Elections Centre, the entity that organises the polls.

Paris stated that it was paying “close attention” to events in Gabon.

China also stated that it was “closely following the developing situation” and demanded that Bongo’s safety be “guaranteed.”

Gabon has been ruled by the same family for more than 55 years, since gaining independence from France in 1960.

Bongo’s father, Omar, was one of France’s closest allies in the post-colonial era, and his son has long been a fixture in Paris, where his family has a sizable real estate portfolio that is being examined by anti-corruption prosecutors.

According to the French defence ministry website, Paris retains a military presence in many of its former colonies, including Gabon, where it has 370 soldiers permanently deployed, some in the capital Libreville.

During a speech in Libreville in March, French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed any French desire to intervene in Africa, declaring that the era of interference was “well over.”

Eramet, a French mining company with 8,000 employees in Gabon, announced it had ceased operations in the country “for the safety of staff and the security of operations.”

The whereabouts of Ali Bongo, whose family has dominated the oil-rich African country for nearly 55 years, were unknown, although the neighbourhood around his mansion appeared to be peaceful.

During the officers’ televised announcement of the cancellation of the election results, one of the officers stated that “all the institutions of the republic” had been disbanded.

An officer read the address, who was surrounded by a dozen army colonels, members of the elite Republican Guard, regular soldiers, and others.

It came just moments after the national election authority announced that Bongo, 64, had won a third term with 64.27 percent of the vote in Saturday’s poll.

Bongo has been in charge for 14 years, having been elected in 2009 after his father, who had controlled the country for 41 years, died.

The statement came during an overnight curfew and a nationwide internet ban imposed by Bongo’s government as voting ended on Saturday to prevent the dissemination of “false news” and probable violence.

After the TV address, the internet was restored on Wednesday morning.

“Today, the country is going through a serious institutional, political, economic, and social crisis,” the officer stated on Gabon 24 television.

He stated that the recent election “did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible, and inclusive ballot that the people of Gabon had hoped for.”

“We have decided to defend peace by bringing the current regime to an end,” the officer added, adding that he was speaking on behalf of the “Committee for Transition and Restoration of Institutions.”

“As a result, the general elections on August 26, 2023, and the truncated results,” he continued.

“All the institutions of the republic are dissolved: the government, the Senate, the National Assembly, and the Constitutional Court,” he continued, closing the country’s borders “until further notice.”
Bongo and his major competitor, Albert Ondo Ossa, led a field of 14 contenders for the presidency of the oil-rich Central African state.

According to the results released prior to the announcement of the officers, Ondo Ossa received only 30.77 percent of the vote.

He accused Bongo of “fraud” before the polls closed on Saturday, insisting he was the genuine winner.

Ondo Ossa’s campaign manager, Mike Jocktane, called on Bongo to hand over power “without bloodshed” on Monday, claiming that a partial count showed Ondo Ossa clearly ahead but offering no proof.

Gabon’s presidential, legislative, and municipal elections were held without the presence of election monitors.

The country’s broadcasting authority had also temporarily suspended the French networks France 24, Radio France Internationale (RFI), and TV5Monde, accusing them of “a lack of objectivity and balance” in their election coverage.

Gabonese law prohibits the publication of partial results before the final result, which can only be published by the Gabonese Elections Centre, the entity that organises the polls.

Paris stated that it was paying “close attention” to events in Gabon.

China also stated that it was “closely following the developing situation” and demanded that Bongo’s safety be “guaranteed.”

Gabon has been ruled by the same family for more than 55 years, since gaining independence from France in 1960.

Bongo’s father, Omar, was one of France’s closest allies in the post-colonial era, and his son has long been a fixture in Paris, where his family has a sizable real estate portfolio that is being examined by anti-corruption prosecutors.

According to the French defence ministry website, Paris retains a military presence in many of its former colonies, including Gabon, where it has 370 soldiers permanently deployed, some in the capital Libreville.

During a speech in Libreville in March, French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed any French desire to intervene in Africa, declaring that the era of interference was “well over.”

Eramet, a French mining company with 8,000 employees in Gabon, announced it had ceased operations in the country “for the safety of staff and the security of operations.”