🔴 Gabonese troopers declare suspension of elections after Bongo’s victory introduced

Issued on: 30/08/2023 – 07:00Modified: 30/08/2023 – 07:19

2 min

• Showing on the Gabon 24 tv channel, the officers mentioned they represented all the safety and defence forces of the central African nation.
• The troopers mentioned the election outcomes had been annulled, all borders closed till additional discover and state establishments dissolved. 
• Gabon voted Saturday in presidential, parliamentary and legislative elections by which incumbent Ali Bongo and Ondo Ossa led a race of 14 candidates vying for the highest job.

6:48am Gunfire heard within the capital Libreville

Loud sounds of gunfire could possibly be heard within the capital Libreville, Reuters and AFP reporters mentioned following the army officers’ tv announcement.

Tensions had been working excessive and there have been fears of unrest after Saturday’s vote, which noticed Bongo in search of to increase his household’s 56-year grip on energy whereas the opposition pushed for change within the oil- and cocoa-rich however poverty-stricken nation. 

A scarcity of worldwide observers, the suspension of some overseas broadcasts – together with FRANCE 24 and sister radio station Radio France Internationale – and the authorities’ determination to chop web service and impose a nationwide night-time curfew after the ballot had raised considerations in regards to the transparency of the electoral course of.

There was no speedy remark from the authorities of the OPEC+ member nation.

6:43am Troopers announce dissolution of state establishments in TV deal with

Showing on the Gabon 24 tv channel, the officers mentioned they represented all the safety and defence forces of the central African nation. They mentioned the election outcomes had been annulled, all borders closed till additional discover and state establishments dissolved.

“Within the identify of the Gabonese individuals … we have now determined to defend the peace by placing an finish to the present regime,” the officers mentioned.

One of many troopers added that “all of the establishments of the republic” had been dissolved. 

“Now we have determined to defend peace by placing an finish to the present regime,” one of many troopers mentioned, including that he was talking on behalf of the “Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Establishments”.

“To this finish, the final elections of 26 August 2023 and the truncated outcomes are cancelled,” he mentioned.

“All of the establishments of the republic are dissolved: the federal government, the Senate, the Nationwide Meeting and the Constitutional Courtroom,” he added, asserting the closure of the nation’s borders “till additional discover”.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AFP and AP)