Gabon navy claims takeover, cancels election outcome
Libreville:Simply hours after Gabon’s electoral fee introduced that President Ali Bongo Ondimba had secured a 3rd time period in workplace after successful the August 26 election, the Central African nation’s mlitary on Wednesday claimed to have taken over after dissolving state establishments and cancelling the ballot outcome.
In a video message, a bunch of senior Gabonese officers introduced that they’d seized energy and likewise closed the nation’s borders till additional discover, studies Xinhua information company.
“Within the identify of the Gabonese folks … now we have determined to defend the peace by placing an finish to the present regime,” the senior navy officers mentioned on nationwide tv after the outcomes had been introduced.
The officers mentioned that the final election was not credible and the outcomes stood annulled.
They learn an announcement on behalf of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Establishments.
“All of the establishments of the Republic are dissolved, specifically the federal government, the Senate, the Nationwide Meeting, the Constitutional Courtroom, the Financial, Social and Environmental Council, the Gabonese Heart for Elections,” they added.
The Gabonese presidency and the federal government are but to concern official statements on the event.
Native media reported that gunfire was heard within the capital Libreville.
In the meantime, web has been restored in Gabon after the federal government had minimize off accessand imposed a curfew after the tip of voting, the BBC reported.
The federal government had mentioned the transfer was crucial to stop the unfold of misinformation and outbreak of violence.
Ondimba’s overthrow would finish his household’s 53-year maintain on energy in Gabon.
As within the earlier basic elections in Gabon, there have been critical issues concerning the course of within the August 26 vote.
Predominant opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa complained that many polling stations lacked poll papers bearing his identify, whereas the coalition he represents mentioned the names of a few of those that had withdrawn from the presidential race had nonetheless been on the poll sheet, studies the BBC.
In line with Reporters With out Borders, overseas media was banned from coming into the nation to cowl the election.
As polls closed, the federal government introduced a curfew and suspension of web entry for safety causes.
Ondimba got here to energy when his father Omar died in 2009.
In 2018, he suffered a stroke which sidelined him for nearly a 12 months and led to requires him to step apart.
The next 12 months, a failed coup try noticed mutinying troopers despatched to jail.
