Military officers announcing the takeover on Gabon 24 TV.
A group of military officers in Gabon has taken over the central African country, overthrowing the government of President Ali Bongo.
Twelve officers announced the take over early on August 30 morning on national television channel Gabon 24, just moments after the nation’s election commission had announced that President Bongo had won a third term.
The group said that the election results were invalidated, all state institutions dissolved and all borders closed until further notice.
“We have decided to defend the peace by putting an end to the current regime,” one of the officers said.
Bongo first took office in 2009, following the death of his father, Omar Bongo who had become the president of Gabon in 1967.
The electoral commission said Bongo won just under two-thirds of the votes in the general election that was held on August 26. The elections were overshadowed by a lack of international observers. The opposition argued that the whole process was fraudulent.
After winning the elections, Bongo’s government curtailed internet service and imposed a nightly curfew across the nation. The government argued that these measures were necessary to prevent the spread of “misinformation.”
Gunfire was heard throughout Gabon’s capital, Libreville, after the military take over. However, no casualties were reported. Later, civilians were seen celebrating with troops in the streets of the city.
Military officers said in a later statement that Bongo was placed under house arrest and one of his sons has been arrested for “treason”.
“President Ali Bongo is under house arrest, surrounded by his family and doctors,” they said in a statement read out on state TV.
Gabon is one of Africa’s major oil producers. The country joined the British-led Commonwealth last year, becoming one of its few members not to have been a British colony.
Following the military takeover, French mining group Eramet says it has stopped its operations in Gabon. The company employs 8,000 people and its local subsidiary extracts manganese ore from the Moanda mines, the world’s largest manganese mines. The mineral is used in steelmaking and batteries.
“For the safety of staff and the security of operations”, Eramet said it had stopped work and was following events closely.
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said her country was following the situation closely, while the European Union’s foreign policy chief said a military takeover would increase instability in Africa.
“This is a big issue for Europe,” said Josep Borrell.
The coup in Gabon comes just a month after the military overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger, the latest in a series of coups across West and Central Africa that started three years ago.
It’s worth noting that Bongo survived a similar attempted military takeover in January of 2019 as he was recovering from a stroke.
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la printemps afrique.
i guess it’s too early to tell in which way the military government will lead but bongo was a classic corrupt western puppet, so another one of these ousted is a step in the right direction!
last year bongo made gabon join the british “commonwealth of nations”, which doesn’t sound like someone heading an independent country would do.
france spoilt for choice which rebellious vassal to attack. happy days for macron.
macron regrets sending to ukraine its military equipment, for russkie target practice.
hi abendschmunzel!
smart timing from these ex french colonies. just after macron send loads of military equipment to ukraine for russkie target practise. nato europe stupidity keeps rolling.
la kabaret!
i was in a gabonese girl friend home yesterday in rennes city. when she saw the video, she told me: “hay, i know him, it’s a friend. brice wanted me as a girlfriend when he came at my libreville military restaurant and i said no.”
(so she got a child from a white french colonel)