In the early hours of Wednesday, August 30, 2023, a gathering of senior military officials in Gabon took control of national television to declare their assumption of power. Their move followed the announcement by the country’s electoral body that President Ali Bongo had secured a third term in office.
Representing the entirety of the Central African nation’s security and defense forces, these officers declared the nullification of the election outcomes. They also enacted immediate measures, including the closure of all borders and the dissolution of state institutions. Subsequent to their televised proclamation, the capital city, Libreville, was engulfed in the sounds of intense gunfire, as reported by a correspondent from Reuters.
The government of the OPEC+ member country had not issued an immediate response.
“In defense of the Gabonese people’s interests, we have chosen to safeguard peace by terminating the current regime,” the officers proclaimed.
Anticipation of unrest was palpable in the aftermath of the recent presidential, parliamentary, and legislative elections held on Saturday. President Bongo aimed to prolong his family’s 56-year hold on power, while the opposition rallied for transformation in the nation, which, despite its oil and cocoa resources, grappled with poverty.
Apprehensions grew due to the absence of international monitors, the suspension of certain foreign broadcasts, and the government’s actions that included cutting internet services and imposing a nationwide curfew at night. These actions cast doubts on the transparency of the electoral process.
Earlier on the same Wednesday, the Gabonese Election Centre declared Bongo the winner of the election with 64.27% of the votes. His primary rival, Albert Ondo Ossa, secured the second position with 30.77% of the votes.
Bongo, aged 64, who ascended to the presidency in 2009 following his father Omar’s tenure, faced competition from 18 other contenders. Among them, six threw their support behind Ondo Ossa in an attempt to narrow the contest. Bongo’s team vehemently denied any allegations of electoral misconduct.
The year 2016 saw violent street protests erupt and the torching of the parliamentary building as a response to Bongo’s controversial reelection for his second term. At that time, the government implemented an internet blackout across Gabon that lasted for several days.
