Military Officers Seizes Power After Gabon Election.

Gabonese military officers have taken control of the country after President Ali Bongo secured a third term in office.

On Wednesday, Gabonese officers announced “an end to the regime” of President Ali Bongo Ondimba

after declaring him the winner of the national elections.

The senior military officer announced the closure of Gabon’s borders after noting an irresponsible and unpredictable governance

“To this end, the general election of 26th August 2023 and the truncated results are cancelled,” one of the soldiers said.

The military officers said Ali Bongo was 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.

The military officers urged the public and various communities to remain calm and serene

and also extended their reassurances to the international community, pledging to uphold Gabon’s commitments.

“We call for calm and serenity from the public, the communities of sister countries settled in Gabon, and the Gabonese diaspora,”

an officer stated while reading a prepared statement on state TV.

“We reaffirm our commitment to respecting Gabon’s commitments to the national and international community,” he added.

Reading the statement on the state Tv an officer said “People of Gabon, we are finally on the road to happiness,”

highlighting their vision for a more stable and prosperous nation.

This is a second coup in West Africa.

Earlier in July a group of soldiers in Niger took control of the country and announced the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum through a military coup.