Military officers in Gabon appeared on national television on Wednesday to declare they were seizing power, prompting celebrations and reports of gunfire on the streets of the capital.
The announcement came just minutes after President Ali Bongo Ondimba, also known as Ali Bongo, was deemed the victor of a contested election, extending his family’s half-century rule over the Central African nation.
The officers, claiming to represent “defense and security forces” in the country, made the announcement in a televised address on news channel Gabon24. It was viewed by CNN on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“On behalf of the Gabonese people and guarantor of the protection of institutions, CTRI [the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions] has decided to defend peace by putting an end to the regime in place,” a military officer said on the broadcast.
CNN cannot independently confirm the video, and has not yet been able to reach Gabon’ government for comment.
In the broadcast, the military officer said the election results would be voided and the country’s borders would be shut.
“All the institutions of the republic are dissolved: in particular the government, the Senate, the National Assembly, the Constitutional Court, Economic and Social and Environmental Council, and the Elections Council of Gabon,” the officer said.
“We call on the population of Gabon, the communities of neighboring countries living in Gabon, as well as the Gabonese diaspora, to remain calm.”
Loud sounds of gunfire could be heard in the capital Libreville, a Reuters reporter said, following the television appearance.
People in Gabon were seen dancing and celebrating on the streets of its capital, according to videos shared with CNN and posted on social media.
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Source: CNN
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The A U and ECOWAS Presidents should sit back and answer this question; how come the very people who waste precious time to queue to vote to elect them as presidents and MP's are same people who rush to the streets in jubilation on hearing that their president has been over thrown? I saw a video footage of Ali Bongo calling on Gabonese to shout on top of their voices for the international community to hear that he has been arrested. Those who were dinning with him should shout for him. Hungry stomachs cant shout louder. A country of some 2.4 million people with crude oil and yet still close to 35% of the people are poor. If not in Africa under an African democratically elected president, where will you find this? Have you ever seen a Fulani man with cattle holding a calabash in his hand going to buy cowmilk to feed his family?