By Fawaz Adebisi
A group of soldiers in Gabon have seized power from President Ali Bongo, who was declared the winner of a disputed election on Saturday in a controversial re-election.
This was announced by the military officers on national television.
The soldiers, who call themselves the Committee of Transition and the Restoration of Institutions, said they were cancelling the election results and dissolving all the institutions of the republic.
They also revealed that they had closed the country’s borders and imposed a curfew.
The coup attempt comes after Mr Bongo’s controversial re-election, which was challenged by the opposition as fraudulent.
Mr Bongo has been in power since 2009, succeeding his father Omar, who ruled Gabon for 53 years.
According to the soldiers, they were acting to defend peace and prevent the country from descending into chaos due to Mr Bongo’s irresponsible and unpredictable governance.
They also accused him of failing to address the social and economic problems facing Gabon.
The government has not yet responded to the coup as Mr Bongo’s whereabouts are unknown.
Recall that recently, the West African nation of Niger has also been plunged into a political crisis after a group of soldiers from the presidential guard staged a coup d’état on 26 July 2023.
They detained President Mohamed Bazoum, who had won a historic democratic election in February 2021, and declared themselves the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP).
They also suspended the constitution, dissolved all the institutions of the republic, closed the borders, and imposed a curfew.
The coup leaders, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, claimed that they were acting to restore peace and stability in the country, which has been facing a worsening security situation due to the presence of Islamist insurgents in the Sahel region.
They also accused President Bazoum of being irresponsible and unpredictable, and of failing to address the social and economic problems facing Niger.
However, President Bazoum refused to resign while in captivity, and denounced the coup as a regression for democracy.
Reacting to this, the international community condemned the coup and called for the immediate release of President Bazoum and the restoration of constitutional order.
The United States, France, the European Union, the African Union, and the United Nations all expressed their concern and urged dialogue and respect for human rights.
Also, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional bloc that Niger is a member of, suspended Niger from its membership and threatened to impose sanctions and military intervention if the junta did not hand over power to a civilian government.
