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Uniformed Gabonese soldiers took to national television to announce the dissolution of state institutions and the invalidation of the recent contentious elections. These actions followed the declaration of longtime leader Ali Bongo as the victor in the presidential race held last week.
In a live address early on Wednesday, the soldiers introduced themselves as representatives of the “Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions.” They declared their intention to “defend peace by putting an end to the current regime,” a stance meant to address what they referred to as the “irresponsible, unpredictable governance” of President Ali Bongo. The soldiers emphasized that Bongo’s 14-year tenure had eroded social cohesion, potentially leading the nation toward chaos.
The address was followed by reports of gunfire in the capital city of Libreville, although the nature and extent of these clashes remain uncertain.
The recent presidential election was reported by the Gabonese Elections Centre to have been won by Bongo, who secured just over 64% of the total votes. His closest rival, Albert Ondo Ossa, trailed significantly in a single-round ballot.
This is not the first time Gabon has faced political instability. In 2019, another military coup attempt transpired when armed military officers took hostages and announced the formation of a “National Restoration Council” aimed at reinstating democracy in the country. The mutiny was swiftly quelled, resulting in few casualties.
Gabon, with a population of approximately 2.3 million, shares borders with Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, and Equatorial Guinea. It was a French colony before gaining independence in 1960.
Notably, a military coup recently occurred in Niger, another former French colony, in late July. The tense situation in the West African nation prompted the ECOWAS bloc to contemplate a Paris-supported intervention to restore the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum. Mali and Burkina Faso, countries where military takeovers have also transpired in recent years, have pledged to safeguard Niger’s new government against external interventions.
