Coup in Gabon, as soldiers take over, oust Bongo
By Emma Ogbuehi
In yet another move signalling the dwindling fortunes of democracy in Africa, Army officers have appeared on national television in Gabon on Wednesday to announce they have taken over power in the West African country, BBC reports.
They said they were annulling the results of Saturday’s election, in which President Ali Bongo was declared the winner.
The soldiers who introduced themselves as members of the CTRI (The Committee of Transition and Restoration of Institutions) said, “We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the regime in power.”
The electoral commission said Bongo’s main challenger, Albert Ondo Ossa, had come in second place with 30.77%. Bongo’s team have rejected Ondo Ossa’s allegations of electoral irregularities.
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His overthrow would end his family’s 53-year hold on power in Gabon.
While other continents are deepening and consolidating on the gains of democracy, Africa is retreating to the days of the military jackboots. In the last 18months, soldiers have struck and taken over power in Chad, Guinea, Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso and lately, Niger. The Gabonese episode adds to the growing list of soldiers making forceful incursion into civil politics.
The coup comes as the dimension of the stand-off between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the coup leaders in Niger, cannot be readily estimated. The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS, the highest body of the Union, has asked the coup leaders in Niger, led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, to restore the ousted President, Mohamed Bazoum to power. The African Union followed suit by issuing a 15-day ultimatum to the junta to reinstall the country’s democratically elected government. The junta however remains adamant and rather, digs in.
Consequently, the AU announced the suspension of Niger Republic from its activities until civilian rule is restored in the country. The AU made the announcement through its Peace and Security Council, against the backdrop of the military takeover in the country.
Soldiers of the presidential guard, led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, had on July 26, toppled President Mohamed Bazoum, prompting the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to unleash a raft of sanctions against the country.
In a communique announcing the action, the AU resolved “…to immediately suspend the participation of the Republic of Niger from all activities of the AU and its Organs and institutions until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country”.
The organisation called on its member states and the international community including bilateral and multilateral partners, to reject the Niger junta and refrain from any action likely to grant legitimacy to the regime.
The Gabonese coup, adds in the political instability in the continent.