The Gabonese president, Ali Bongo has been deposed by a military coup following Saturdays election in which Bongo emerged the winner for a third tenure.
There has been widespread protest against the election which was said to have been heavily rigged and lacked the presence of international observers. The BBC news quoted soldiers to have appeared on Gabonese national TV to announce the take over of power and the annulment of Saturdays presidential election.
“We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime”, one of the soldiers said on TV channel Gabon 24, adding that he was speaking on behalf of the “Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions”.
“To this end, the general elections of 26 August 2023 and the truncated results are cancelled,” he added.
“All the institutions of the republic are dissolved: the government, the Senate, the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court,” he added, announcing the closure of the country’s borders “until further notice”.
Among the soldiers were members of the Republican Guard as well as soldiers of the regular army and police officers.
The statement was also broadcast on Gabon 1 public television.
The Economic Community of West African States is yet to comment on the situation in Gabon