LIBREVILLE, Aug 30, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Rebel officers in Gabon announced 
Wednesday they had seized power following disputed elections in which 
President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family has ruled the oil-rich state for 
more than 55 years, had been declared winner.

The claimed takeover sparked condemnation from the African Union (AU) and 
alarm from Nigeria over "contagious autocracy" in a continent where the 
military have seized power in five other countries since 2020.

Bongo, 64, who took over from his father Omar in 2009, was placed under house 
arrest and one of his sons arrested for treason, the coup leaders said.

In a dramatic pre-dawn address, a group of officers declared "all the 
institutions of the republic" had been dissolved, the election results 
cancelled and the borders closed.

"Today, the country is going through a serious institutional, political, 
economic and social crisis," according to the statement read on state TV.

It was read by an officer flanked by a group of a dozen army colonels, 
members of the elite Republican Guard, regular soldiers and others.

The elections "did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and 
inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon," the statement 
said.
"Added to this is irresponsible and unpredictable governance, resulting in a 
continuing deterioration in social cohesion, with the risk of leading the 
country in chaos."

"We -- the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions 
(CTRI) on behalf of the people of Gabon and as guarantors of the 
institutions' protection -- have decided to defend peace by putting an end to 
the current regime," it said.

- Arrests -

TV images later showed the head of the Republican Guard, General Brice Oligui 
Nguema, being carried in triumph by hundreds of soldiers, to cries of "Oligui 
president."

Bongo's son and close adviser Noureddin Bongo Valentin, his chief of staff 
Ian Ghislain Ngoulou as well as his deputy, two other presidential advisers 
and the two top officials in the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) "have 
been arrested," a military leader said.

They are accused of treason, embezzlement, corruption and falsifying the 
president's signature, among other allegations, he said.

A worried-looking Bongo, in a video from an unidentified location, appealed 
to "all friends that we have all over the world... to make noise" on his 
behalf.

"My son is somewhere, my wife is in another place and I'm at the residence 
and nothing is happening. I don't know what's going on. I'm calling you to 
make noise."

- Disputed election -

Bongo was first elected in 2009 following the death of his father Omar, who 
had ruled the country for 41 years, reputedly amassing a fortune en route.

The coup announcement came just moments after the national election authority 
declared Bongo had won a third term in Saturday's election with 64.27 percent 
of the vote.

Gabon's main opposition, led by university professor Albert Ondo Ossa, had 
angrily accused Bongo of "fraud" and demanded that he hand over power 
"without bloodshed."

The authorities at the weekend imposed an overnight curfew and shut down the 
internet nationwide. The internet was restored on Wednesday morning after the 
TV address.

Gabon's 2016 elections were marked by deadly violence after Bongo edged out 
rival Jean Ping by just 5,500 votes, according to the official tally.

In 2018, Bongo suffered a stroke that sidelined him for 10 months and fuelled 
accusations that he was medically unfit to hold office.

- Family rule -

The central African country of 2.3 million people has been ruled by the 
Bongos for more than 55 out of its 63 years since independence from France in 
1960.

The AU said it "strongly condemns" the claimed takeover as a violation of its 
charter.

In Nigeria, Africa's biggest economy and most populous country, President 
Bola Tinubu said he was in contact with other African heads over the 
"contagious autocracy we have seen spread across our continent."

"Power belongs in the hands of Africa's great people and not in the barrel of 
a loaded gun," Tinubu said through his spokesman.

Since 2020 there have been military takeovers in Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina 
Faso and Niger.

In France, whose loss of Bongo would mark a further blow to its clout in 
Africa, the government said it "condemns the coup that is under way" in Gabon 
and reiterated its desire "to see the results of the election respected, once 
they are known."

Russia said it was "deeply concerned" over the situation, while China called 
for "all sides" in Gabon to guarantee Bongo's safety, "resolve differences 
through dialogue, (and) restore normal order as soon as possible."