Gabon President Ali Bongo Toppled From Power In Military Coup

• Gabon's electoral commission said President Ali Bongo had won just under two-thirds of the votes in an election the opposition argued was fraudulent
• Main opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa complained that many polling stations lacked ballot papers bearing his name
• Armed Gabonese military officers said they were annulling the election results in which the now-ousted President Ali Bongo was declared the winner

Libreville, Gabon- Barely one week after voters in Gabon went to the polls, military officers in army fatigue have appeared on national television in the Central African nation saying they have taken power.

The officers said they were annulling the results of Saturday, August 26, General Election, in which the now-ousted President Ali Bongo was declared the winner.

The country's electoral commission said Bongo had won just under two-thirds of the votes in an election the opposition argued was fraudulent.

What the military coup means to Bongo's family

BBC reported that his overthrow would end his family's 53-year hold on power in Gabon.

Twelve soldiers appeared on television on the morning of Wednesday, August 30, announcing they were annulling the results of the election and dissolving "all the institutions of the republic".

They also said the country's borders had been closed "until further notice".

One of the soldiers said on TV channel Gabon 24:

"We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime."

This, he added, was down to "irresponsible, unpredictable governance resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion that risks leading the country into chaos".

The sounds of loud gunfire could be heard in the country's capital, Libreville, following the broadcast.

How Gabonese opposition cried foul

Internet access was suspended following Saturday's election for security reasons.

Main opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa complained that many polling stations lacked ballot papers bearing his name, while the coalition he represents said the names of some of those who had withdrawn from the presidential race had still been on the ballot sheet.

Bongo came to power when his father Omar died in 2009.

In 2018, he suffered a stroke which sidelined him for almost a year and led to calls for him to step aside.

Another military coup in Sahel region

The following year, a failed coup attempt saw mutinying soldiers sent to prison.

In a related story, TUKO.co.ke reported that a group of religious leaders meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, aired their views on the ongoing coup d’état in Niger.

The religious leaders pointed out the threat that the crisis poses to the entire West African region as well as the continent’s economic crisis.

For instance, Bishop Laurent Dabire of Dori Diocese in Burkina Faso and his Malian counterpart Florent Kone of San Diocese kicked against plans by Nigerian president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deploy military personnel against Niger military junta.

Addressing the press on Tuesday, August 8, after day two of their deliberations, the faith leaders instead called upon both parties to wake up to their responsibility by preventing the country from going into a needless war.