- President Ali Bongo Deposed in Coup and Under House Arrest
- Army Announces Nullification of Election Results and Dissolves Government
- French and International Reactions to the Coup in Gabon
President Ali Bongo of Gabon has appealed for assistance after being deposed by the army in a coup and placed under house arrest.
Wednesday, from what he claimed to be his residence, he implored supporters to “raise your voice”
Earlier, army officers announced on television that they had seized control.
They stated that they had annulled the results of the election held on Saturday, in which Mr. Bongo was declared the victor, but the opposition claimed that it was fraudulent.
The officers also reported that one of Mr. Bongo’s sons had been detained for treason.
Later, it was announced that Mr. Bongo would be succeeded by the commander of the presidential guard, General Brice Oligui Nguema, who had been carried triumphantly through the streets of the capital, Libreville.
On Thursday, “the people of Gabon will once again be free to go about their business between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.”; However, traffic restrictions will remain in effect for the time being.
The overthrow of Mr. Bongo would terminate the 55-year rule of his family in Gabon.
The country is one of Africa’s largest oil producers despite being 90% forest. In June 2022, it became one of the Commonwealth’s few members that had never been a British colony.
Mr. Bongo verified in his video message that he was under house arrest.
“My son is somewhere, and my wife is elsewhere… Nothing is taking place. I have no idea what’s going on,” he said in English before requesting assistance once more.
The leaders of the revolt announced on television that they were annulling the election results and dissolving “all institutions of the republic.”
They added that the country’s frontiers had been closed “until further notice.”
It occurred after Gabon’s electoral commission announced that Mr. Bongo had won just under two-thirds of the ballots in Saturday’s election, which the opposition claimed was rigged.
One of the soldiers stated that they had “put an end to the current regime” due to “irresponsible, unpredictable governance resulting in a steady decline in social cohesion that threatens to plunge the country into chaos.”
In the past three years, this was the ninth coup in former French colonies in Africa.
The majority of the others, however, have occurred further north in the Sahel region, where an Islamist insurgency has prompted growing complaints that democratically elected governments are failing to protect civilian populations.
Gabon’s Bongo family dynasty has ruled since 1967, and many have had enough. People were quick to take to the streets, displaying sincere happiness. To date, there are few indications of resistance.
A spokesman for the French government condemned the coup and demanded that the election results be respected.
A plea for Ali Bongo’s continuation is unlikely to be favourably received given French influence in Africa’s collapse.
Since Paris was less likely to support Mr. Bongo, the military may have felt empowered to intervene.
Mr. Bongo’s use of English in his video, as opposed to the official language of Gabon, French, suggests that he was addressing the Commonwealth rather than France.
Russia and China are among the nations that have voiced concern. The head of foreign policy for the European Union stated that a military conquest would increase instability in Africa.
“This is a significant issue for Europe,” Josep Borrell stated.
Internet access was suspended for security reasons following Saturday’s election, but it was reinstated shortly after the apparent takeover. There is also a curfew in effect.
As with previous general elections in Gabon, there were significant concerns about the election process on Saturday.
Albert Ondo Ossa, the leading opposition candidate, complained that many polling stations lacked ballots bearing his name, while the coalition he represents stated that the names of some candidates who had withdrawn from the race were still on the ballot sheet.
Reporters Without Borders stated that foreign journalists were prohibited from entering the country to cover the election.
Both of Mr. Bongo’s previous victories were contested as illegitimate by his opponents. This time, ballots were altered controversially just weeks before election day.
Mr. Bongo assumed authority upon the death of his father Omar in 2009.
A stroke in 2018 left him disabled for nearly a year, prompting calls for his resignation.
The following year, mutinous soldiers were imprisoned after an unsuccessful coup attempt.
