Army officers appeared on Gabon’s national television to announce that they have taken power.
They declared that they are canceling the results of Saturday’s elections, in which President Ali Bongo was declared the winner.
The electoral commission proclaimed Ali Bongo the winner of last Saturday’s elections with 64.27%. His main challenger, opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa, received 30.77%. He called the elections fraudulent and claimed victory.
The overthrow of the incumbent president would end the 53-year rule of the Bongo family.
Twelve soldiers appeared on television to announce that they are canceling the election results and dissolving “all institutions of the republic.”
One of the soldiers stated on Gabon 24 television: “We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime.”
He added that this is due to “irresponsible and unpredictable governance resulting in a continuous deterioration of social cohesion that could lead the country into chaos.”