The soldiers, who are part of the newly formed Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), also declared Gabon’s borders closed as well as the suspension of the National Assembly, the Constitutional Court, and the Senate. The soldiers, part of the newly formed Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), also declared the closure of Gabon’s borders and the suspension of the country’s Senate, National Assembly and Constitutional Court.
According to the election results, Bongo received 64.27 percent of the vote while opponent Albert Ondo Ossa garnered 30.77 percent. Onda Ossa accused the elections of being rigged. In July, the soldiers announced that they had overthrown President Mohammed Bazoum by Niger’s Presidential Guard. The coup took place one month after Niger, another former French colony. Niger’s coup came alongside a rise of anti-French sentiment in the country, with pro-coup protesters carrying signs with slogans such as “France must leave” and “Down with France long live Putin.” Niger’s junta has also ordered the French ambassador to leave the country.
Gabon last underwent a coup attempt in 2019 after Bongo suffered a stroke. The coup attempt was unsuccessful and two pro-coup troops were killed and eight more arrested. The last successful coup in Gabon occurred in 1964, less than six years after the country’s independence.
Ali Bongo is the son of former Gabonese President Omar Bongo, who ruled the country from 1967 to 2009. Omar Bongo was known for his close relations with France and for amassing a vast amount of personal wealth while president.
This is a rapidly developing situation.