Military takes over Gabon, dissolves major state institutions

Alexander Bombande August 30, 2023 0

 

A group of Gabon military officials identified as the Committee of Transition and the Restoration of Institutions say they have seized power in the Central African nation.

They have dissolved the government, the senate, the national assembly, the constitutional court and the election body and vowed to close borders.

The takeover comes after the electoral body announced that President Ali Bongo Ondimba had won a third term on Wednesday with 64.25 per cent of the vote.

The Military officers appeared on national television channel Gabon 24, saying they had taken power and were representing security and defence forces.

The officials told the public election results were cancelled, all borders were closed until further notice and state institutions were dissolved.

Their statement read, “Today, the country is going through a serious institutional, political, economic and social crisis," the officer said. 

"In the name of the Gabonese people … we have decided to defend the peace by putting an end to the current regime."