The Punch newspaper reports that some Gabonese army officers on Wednesday announced on national television that they have taken over power from the civilian government headed by Ali Bongo.
The newspaper quoted the BBC as its source.
According to the report, the military officers said they had annulled the results of the West African country’s presidential election in which the incumbent president was declared the winner. The election took place on Saturday, August 26, 2023.
The coup leaders introduced themselves as members of the CTRI (Committee of Transition and Restoration of Institutions) and said:
“We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the regime in power.”
Bongo’s main challenger in the Saturday presidential election, Albert Ondo Ossa, who placed second in the poll, according to results announced by the county’s electoral body, alleged electoral irregularities.
Bongo’s overthrow ends his family’s 53-year hold on power in that country.
It also makes Gabon the fourth West African country to come under military rule in recent times, the three others being Burkina Faso, Mali, and the Niger Republic.
Ifyafrica (
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