Power Shift in Gabon: Military Seizes Control, Election Outcome Nullified
Written by Sanjay Kumar
Gabon
Country in Central Africa
- Capital: Libreville
- Official language: French
- Currency: Central African CFA franc
- Continent: Africa
- Population: 23.4 lakhs (2021) World Bank
- Dialing code: +241
- Gross domestic product: 2,021.68 crores USD (2021)
A sudden turn of events unfolded in Gabon as a group of twelve Gabonese soldiers took control of the nation. In a televised announcement, they boldly declared the termination of the current regime and the annulment of an Election that, as per official records, had been won by President Ali Bongo Ondimba. Curiously, the airwaves were filled with the sound of gunfire in the capital city of Libreville as this announcement was made.
Amidst the declaration of the election results’ cancellation, one of the soldiers leading the charge shared that they had dissolved “all the institutions of the republic.” Their aim, they asserted, was to safeguard peace by bringing the current regime to an end. The spokesperson, speaking on behalf of the “Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions,” conveyed their message on Gabon 24 TV. He confirmed the cancellation of the August 26, 2023 general elections along with their incomplete outcomes.
In an audacious move, the spokesperson emphasized the dissolution of crucial governmental bodies. The government itself, along with the Senate, the National Assembly, and the Constitutional Court, were declared null and void. In addition, the announcement included the immediate closure of the nation’s borders until further notice. The voices representing this transitional committee spanned different ranks, encompassing members of the Republican Guard, regular army, and police personnel. This significant statement was simulcast on Gabon 1 public television.
As the announcement resonated through the nation’s airwaves, the capital city was marred by the sound of gunfire. Reports from AFP journalists revealed that multiple districts within Libreville were subjected to this unsettling soundtrack during the broadcast of the soldiers’ message. The atmosphere was tense, reflecting the gravity of the situation that was rapidly unfolding.
The soldiers’ proclamation followed closely on the heels of an official declaration from the national election authority. This declaration asserted that President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who had held power for fourteen years, had secured a third term with a resounding 64.27 percent of the vote in the recently concluded election held on a Saturday. His primary contender, Albert Ondo Ossa, had garnered just 30.77 percent of the vote, according to these figures.
Even before the soldiers’ dramatic takeover, Albert Ondo Ossa had been vocal about his skepticism regarding the authenticity of the election results. He vociferously accused the Bongo camp of engineering fraudulent activities to manipulate the outcome. Albert Ondo Ossa had even asserted his victory prior to the formal closure of the polls. A plea had been issued by Ondo Ossa’s campaign manager, Mike Jocktane, urging Bongo to relinquish power peacefully, without any bloodshed. However, this plea was lacking in substantiating evidence, merely claiming a favorable partial count.
It is noteworthy that Gabonese law explicitly forbids the premature publication of partial election results. This prohibition is to remain in effect until the final results are declared by the Gabonese Elections Centre, the sole legitimate entity authorized to disclose this information. The actual election results were surprisingly unveiled at 03:30 (02:30 GMT) on state television without prior notice to the public.
Before the election concluded on the fateful Saturday, President Bongo’s administration had imposed stringent measures. A curfew was put in place, and a nationwide blackout of internet services was enforced. These drastic steps were taken to curtail the dissemination of “false news” and to preempt any potential outbreak of violence. These actions were attributed to concerns about maintaining order in Libreville.
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