A group of senior military officers in Gabon declared early today that they had taken control of Gabon’s government only minutes after the Central African country’s electoral board reported that incumbent President Ali Bongo had won a third term.
The Gabonese Election Center had announced earlier on Wednesday that Bongo had won the election with 64.27% of the vote, while his major opponent, Albert Ondo Ossa, had come in second with 30.77%.
In staging the so-far bloodless coup, the army officers stated on Gabonese television channel Gabon 24 that they represent all Gabonese security and defense forces, and that the election results have been canceled, all borders are now blocked until further notice, and governmental institutions have been dismantled.
Gunfire could be heard in the capital Libreville following the proclamation announcing the ouster of Bongo, whose family has ruled the country that produces oil and manganese for more than half a century.
There was no immediate response from Gabon’s administration, which is a member of the oil producing club OPEC, and no immediate information on Bongo’s location. He was last seen in public casting his ballot in the election on Saturday.
For 56 years, with both Bongo and his father before him having been president, Bongo’s family has dominated the oil-producing, but impoverished country. His adversaries allege he has done nothing to direct the benefit of the country’s significant oil and other resources toward its 2.3 million inhabitants, one-third of whom live in poverty.