Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba has been placed under house arrest by military officers who claim to have overthrown the government.
The officers announced this development in a statement read on state TV, stating that President Bongo is currently detained at home and surrounded by his family and doctors.
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Additionally, his son and close adviser, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, along with other high-ranking officials, have been arrested on charges of treason, embezzlement, corruption, and falsifying the president’s signature.
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A group of senior Gabonese military officers appeared on national television shortly after the state election body announced President Ali Bongo’s third-term victory.
Speaking on Gabon 24 early Wednesday morning, these officers claimed to represent all security and defence forces in the Central African nation.
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They announced the cancellation of the election results, the closure of borders until further notice, and the dissolution of state institutions.
Following their television appearance, the capital city, Libreville, echoed with the sounds of gunfire.
“In the name of the Gabonese people … we have decided to defend the peace by putting an end to the current regime,” the officers said in a statement.
Gabon Election Results and Opposition Allegations
Tensions escalated in Gabon following recent presidential, parliamentary, and legislative elections, as different factions vied for power.
President Bongo aimed to prolong his family’s 56-year reign, while the opposition advocated for change in the nation, which is rich in resources but faces economic challenges.
Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba casts his vote at a polling station during the presidential election in Libreville, Gabon August 26, 2023 [Image: Gerauds Wilfried Obangome/Reuters]
According to the Gabonese Election Centre, Bongo secured 64.27 percent of the vote, while his main rival, Albert Ondo Ossa, received 30.77 percent. However, the election process was plagued by delays.The opposition alleged that the election was a “fraud orchestrated by Ali Bongo and his supporters.”
To control the situation, the government implemented measures such as shutting down the internet and imposing a nighttime curfew on Saturday.
Additionally, French media outlets France 24, RFI, and TV5 Monde were banned and accused of biased coverage related to the ongoing general elections.
The absence of international observers, the suspension of foreign broadcasts, and the decision to cut off internet access and enforce a nationwide curfew after the election raised concerns about the transparency of the voting process.
Source iHarare
