Gabon coup: President Bongo under house arrest — Soldiers

Military officers in Gabon have declared that President Ali Bongo Ondimba is under house arrest, saying one of his sons has been arrested for “treason”

The military officers made the declaration on Wednesday, August, 30, 2023, hours after announcing they had seized power.

Bongo’s family has ruled the oil-rich African country for over 55 years.

While the officers made their televised statement announcing the cancellation of the election results, one of the officers said “all the institutions of the republic” had been dissolved.

The address was read by an officer flanked by a group of a dozen army colonels, members of the elite Republican Guard, regular soldiers, and others.

It came moments after the national election authority said Bongo, 64, had won a third term in Saturday’s election with 64.27 per cent of the vote.

READ ALSO: Soldiers take over in Gabon after Bongo’s victory

Bongo has been in power for 14 years, after being first elected in 2009 following the death of his father who had ruled the country for 41 years.

The announcement came in the middle of an overnight curfew and amid a nationwide internet shutdown, imposed by Bongo’s government as polling drew to a close on Saturday to prevent the spread of “false news” and possible violence.

Internet was restored on Wednesday morning after the TV address.

“Today, the country is going through a serious institutional, political, economic and social crisis,” the officer said.

He said the recent election “did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon.”

“We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime,” the officer said, adding that he was speaking on behalf of the

He said: “Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions.

“To this end, the general elections of 26 August 2023 and the truncated results are cancelled.”

The Star