Gabonese Military Officers Suspend Elections and Close Borders Following President’s Re-Election
In a surprising turn of events, a group of senior Gabonese military officers appeared on television in the early hours of Wednesday to announce the suspension of elections and the closing of borders shortly after the election commission declared President Ali Bongo the winner of a third term. The officers, representing all the security and defense forces of the central African nation, stated that the election results were annulled, all borders were closed until further notice, and state institutions were dissolved.
The announcement came after tensions had been running high following Saturday’s vote, in which Bongo sought to extend his family’s 56-year grip on power. The opposition had pushed for change in the oil- and cocoa-rich but poverty-stricken nation. Concerns about the transparency of the electoral process had already been raised due to a lack of international observers, the suspension of foreign broadcasts, and the authorities’ decision to cut internet service and impose a nationwide night-time curfew after the poll.
Gunfire was heard in the capital, Libreville, following the military officers’ television announcement, causing further alarm and uncertainty among the population. The situation remains fluid, and there has been no immediate comment from the government.
The officers, speaking on behalf of the “Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions,” stated that they were defending peace by putting an end to the current regime. They declared the cancellation of the general elections held on August 26, 2023, and the dissolution of all institutions of the republic, including the government, the Senate, the National Assembly, and the Constitutional Court. The closure of the country’s borders was also announced “until further notice.”
The international community is closely monitoring the situation in Gabon, with concerns about the potential for violence and instability. The suspension of elections and the military’s intervention have raised questions about the country’s democratic process and the future of governance in Gabon.
As the situation continues to unfold, it is crucial for all parties involved to prioritize the safety and well-being of the Gabonese people. The international community must also play a role in supporting a peaceful resolution and ensuring the respect for democratic principles in the country.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AFP, and AP)Gabonese Military Officers Suspend Elections and Close Borders Following President’s Re-Election
In a surprising turn of events, a group of senior Gabonese military officers appeared on television in the early hours of Wednesday to announce the suspension of elections and the closing of borders shortly after the election commission declared President Ali Bongo the winner of a third term. The officers, representing all the security and defense forces of the central African nation, stated that the election results were annulled, all borders were closed until further notice, and state institutions were dissolved.
The announcement came after tensions had been running high in Gabon following Saturday’s vote. President Bongo, seeking to extend his family’s 56-year grip on power, faced opposition from candidates pushing for change in the poverty-stricken nation. The lack of international observers, the suspension of foreign broadcasts, and the authorities’ decision to cut internet service and impose a nationwide curfew had raised concerns about the transparency of the electoral process.
Gunfire was heard in the capital city of Libreville following the military officers’ television address, causing further alarm and uncertainty among the population. The situation remains tense, and there has been no immediate comment from the government.
The officers, speaking on behalf of the “Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions,” declared the cancellation of the general elections held on August 26, 2023, and the dissolution of all state institutions, including the government, the Senate, the National Assembly, and the Constitutional Court. They also announced the closure of the country’s borders until further notice.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation in Gabon, with concerns about the potential for violence and the impact on the country’s stability. The suspension of elections and the military’s intervention have raised questions about the future of democracy in Gabon and the potential for a peaceful transition of power.
As the situation continues to unfold, it is crucial for all parties involved to prioritize the safety and well-being of the Gabonese people. The international community must also play a role in supporting a peaceful resolution and ensuring the protection of human rights in the country.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AFP, and AP)
How does the closure of borders and dissolution of state institutions in Gabon impact the country’s democratic process?
Rs were closed until further notice, and state institutions were dissolved.
The announcement came after tensions had been running high following Saturday’s vote, in which Bongo sought to extend his family’s 56-year grip on power. The opposition had pushed for change in the oil- and cocoa-rich but poverty-stricken nation. Concerns about the transparency of the electoral process had already been raised due to a lack of international observers, the suspension of foreign broadcasts, and the authorities’ decision to cut internet service and impose a nationwide night-time curfew after the poll.
Gunfire was heard in the capital, Libreville, following the military officers’ television announcement, causing further alarm and uncertainty among the population. The situation remains fluid, and there has been no immediate comment from the government.
The officers, who identified themselves as representatives of the “Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions,” stated that they were taking action to defend peace and put an end to the current regime. They declared the cancellation of the general elections held on August 26, 2023, and the dissolution of all institutions of the republic, including the government, the Senate, the National Assembly, and the Constitutional Court. They also announced the closure of the country’s borders “until further notice.”
The international community is closely watching the situation in Gabon, expressing concerns about the potential for violence and instability. The suspension of elections and the military’s intervention have raised questions about the country’s democratic process and the future of governance in Gabon.
As the situation continues to develop, it is crucial for all parties to prioritize the safety and well-being of the Gabonese people. The international community must also play a role in supporting a peaceful resolution and ensuring the respect for democratic principles in the country.
This is a concerning development for democracy and stability in Gabon.