The Central African nation of Gabon confronted a army coup early Wednesday after a bunch senior army officers denounced the results of the current basic elections and claimed to have seized energy.
The announcement got here minutes after the nation’s election physique introduced that President Ali Bongo had gained a 3rd time period within the polls.
The officers mentioned on tv channel Gabon 24 that they represented all Gabonese safety and protection forces. They mentioned the election outcomes have been cancelled, all borders have been closed till additional discover and state establishments have been dissolved.
Gunfire might be heard within the capital Libreville after the assertion saying the ousting of Bongo, whose household have dominated the nation that produces oil and manganese for greater than half a century, a Reuters reporter mentioned.
There was no instant remark from the federal government of Gabon, which is a member of the oil producer group OPEC, and there have been no instant reviews on the whereabouts of Bongo, who was final seen in public casting his vote within the vote on Saturday.
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne mentioned France, Gabon’s former colonial ruler, was following the scenario carefully.
If profitable, the coup could be the eighth in West and Central Africa since 2020. The newest one, in Niger, was in July. Military officers have additionally seized energy in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Chad.
Niger and different Sahel nations have been battling terrorist insurgencies which have eroded religion in democratic governments.
Gabon, which lies additional south on the Atlantic coast, is just not dealing with the identical challenges, however a coup would recommend an additional signal of democratic backsliding in a unstable area.
Bongo’s household has dominated the oil producing however poor nation for 56 years. His detractors say he has performed little to channel its oil and different wealth towards the inhabitants of some 2.3 million folks, a 3rd of whom reside in poverty.
“Today the country is undergoing a severe institutional, political, economic, and social crisis,” the officers mentioned in an announcement, saying the Aug. 26 election lacked transparency and credibility.
“In the name of the Gabonese people … we have decided to defend the peace by putting an end to the current regime,” they mentioned.
One officer learn the joint assertion, surrounded by a dozen or so others in army fatigues and berets.
The servicemen launched themselves as members of The Committee of Transition and the Restoration of Institutions.
The state establishments they declared dissolved included the federal government, the senate, the nationwide meeting, the constitutional court docket and the election physique.
Fears of unrest
There had been fears of unrest after Saturday’s presidential, parliamentary and legislative elections, which noticed Bongo in search of a 3rd time period towards 18 challengers. His crew has rejected allegations of fraud.
But an absence of worldwide observers, the suspension of some international broadcasts and the authorities’ choice to chop web service and impose a night-time curfew nationwide after the ballot had raised issues concerning the transparency of the electoral course of.
As the solar rose, the streets of capital Libreville appeared calm and crowds of curious residents gathered exterior. Some cheered as a bunch of troopers drove previous in a automobile, however there was no signal of widespread celebration or alarm.
“If this is confirmed, it is another military coup which increases instability in the whole region,” mentioned the European Union’s international coverage chief, Josep Borrell.
Several hours after the officers’ announcement, web entry gave the impression to be restored for the primary time since Saturday’s vote, a Reuters reporter mentioned.
The Netblocks web observatory confirmed there had been some restoration of connectivity nationwide.
The Gabonese Election Centre had earlier Wednesday introduced that Bongo gained the election with 64.27% of the vote and his predominant challenger, Albert Ondo Ossa, had are available in second with 30.77%.
Bongo, 64, succeeded his father Omar as president in 2009 and was reelected in a disputed election in 2016.
The authorities mentioned the net blackout and curfew have been crucial to stop the unfold of faux news and to guard public security. The state had additionally shut down the web for a number of days after Bongo’s 2016 election win, which provoked violent protests that noticed the parliament constructing torched.
Gabon foiled an tried army coup in January 2019 after troopers briefly seized the state radio station and broadcast a message saying Bongo, who had suffered a stroke months earlier, was now not match for workplace.
The scenario was restored hours later after two of the suspected coup plotters have been killed and others arrested.
Gabon’s dollar-denominated bonds fell by almost 4 cents on Wednesday, and French miner Eramet, which has massive manganese operations in Gabon, mentioned it had halted operations.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
