The Central African nation of Gabon confronted a army coup early Wednesday after a gaggle senior army officers denounced the results of the current normal 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 stated on tv channel Gabon 24 that they represented all Gabonese safety and protection forces. They stated the election outcomes had been cancelled, all borders had been closed till additional discover and state establishments had been dissolved.
Gunfire might be heard within the capital Libreville after the assertion asserting the ousting of Bongo, whose household have dominated the nation that produces oil and manganese for greater than half a century, a Reuters reporter stated.
There was no rapid remark from the federal government of Gabon, which is a member of the oil producer group OPEC, and there have been no rapid stories on the whereabouts of Bongo, who was final seen in public casting his vote within the vote on Saturday.
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne stated 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 international locations 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 counsel an additional signal of democratic backsliding in a risky area.
Bongo’s household has dominated the oil producing however poor nation for 56 years. His detractors say he has finished little to channel its oil and different wealth towards the inhabitants of some 2.3 million individuals, a 3rd of whom stay in poverty.
“Today the country is undergoing a severe institutional, political, economic, and social crisis,” the officers stated 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 stated.
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 searching for a 3rd time period towards 18 challengers. His group has rejected allegations of fraud.
But an absence of worldwide observers, the suspension of some overseas broadcasts and the authorities’ determination to chop web service and impose a night-time curfew nationwide after the ballot had raised issues in regards to the transparency of the electoral course of.
As the solar rose, the streets of capital Libreville appeared calm and crowds of curious residents gathered outdoors. Some cheered as a gaggle 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,” stated the European Union’s overseas 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 stated.
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 primary challenger, Albert Ondo Ossa, had are available 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 stated the online blackout and curfew had been mandatory to stop the unfold of pretend 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 not match for workplace.
The scenario was restored hours later after two of the suspected coup plotters had been killed and others arrested.
Gabon’s dollar-denominated bonds fell by practically 4 cents on Wednesday, and French miner Eramet, which has giant manganese operations in Gabon, stated it had halted operations.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
