*Military generals nullify controversial election results
Another coup has happened in Africa after a faction of high-ranking military officials in Gabon took to national television to assert their control, asserting that the recent general election’s legitimacy is questionable.
They maintain that they represent the collective security and defense forces of Gabon.
In a televised address, the officers proclaimed the nullification of the election outcomes, immediate closure of national borders, and the dissolution of state institutions.
The capital city, Libreville, resonated with the echoes of gunshots, as reported by a correspondent from Reuters, right after the televised message was broadcasted.
Efforts to reach the government for a response were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The incumbent leader of Gabon, President Ali Bongo, secured a third term in office through the presidential election, garnering 64.27% of the total votes, according to the Gabonese election centre’s announcement on Wednesday.
The general election had been marred by delays, fueling allegations of fraud from the opposition. The Bongo family’s lengthy 53-year reign over Gabon could potentially be terminated if this power shift takes effect.
Presenting the results during the early hours, Michel Stephane Bonda, the head of the election committee, disclosed that Albert Ondo Ossa, Bongo’s primary rival, emerged in second place with 30.77% of the votes.
Bongo’s team promptly dismissed Ondo Ossa’s claims of electoral improprieties.
Tensions had already escalated in the lead-up to the presidential, parliamentary, and legislative elections held on Saturday.
While Bongo aimed to prolong his family’s 56-year dominion over Gabon, opposition forces pressed for transformative change in the resource-rich yet economically challenged Central African nation.
Apprehensions had escalated due to the absence of international observers, the suspension of foreign broadcasts, and the government’s imposition of internet blackouts and a nationwide curfew following the polls.
These actions have raised doubts about the transparency and fairness of the electoral process.
