A group of senior military officers in Gabon have claimed that they have seized power in the early hours of Wednesday, minutes after the Central African state’s election body announced that President Ali Bongo had won a third term.
The officers said on State television “Gabon 24” that they represented all Gabonese security and defence forces, stating that the election results have been cancelled and all borders were closed until further notice and state institutions were also dissolved.
According to reports, gunfire could be heard in the capital Libreville after the statement announcing the ousting of Bongo, whose family have ruled the country that produces oil and manganese for 56 years.
If successful, the coup would be the eighth in West and Central Africa since 2020 as military officers have also seized power in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Chad with the latest one, in Niger, in July.
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