Gabonese celebrate overthrow of Ali Bongo

Gabonese, in the early hours of Wednesday, took to the streets to celebrate the military coup in the country that ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba, after the controversial presidential election.

Citizens celebrate military coup in Gabon

National Daily Newspaper gathered that Citizens in their thousands in the Plein Ciel district of Libreville, in the course of the celebration, commended the security forces on Wednesday, after watching a team of Gabonese military officers on television declaring a coup, that they were “putting an end to the current regime” and canceling the official election results of August 26 polls that had returned President Ali Bongo Ondimba to another term in office.

Gabonese Army commended by citizens on the streets for overthrowing President Ali Bongo

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Many were observed on the streets waving at the military officers as they drive along the major roads and assuring the people of their safety.

The Gabonese military, constituting a Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) on behalf of the people had declared in a broadcast, “Today, 30 August 2023, we — the defence and security forces, gathered as 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.”

Gabonese Army Officers announcing the overthrow of President Ali Bongo in a broadcast on Wednesday

The statement by the coup leader in a broadcast on Gabon 24 television channel translated from French, reads:
“Our beautiful country, Gabon, has always been a haven of peace.

“Today, the country is going through a serious institutional, political, economic and social crisis.
“We are therefore forced to admit that the organisation of the general elections of 26 August 2023 did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon.

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“Added to this is irresponsible and unpredictable governance, resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion, with the risk of leading the country into chaos.

“Today, 30 August 2023, we — the defence and security forces, gathered as 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.

“To this end, the general elections of 26 August 2023 and the truncated results are cancelled.
“The borders are closed until further notice.

“All the institutions of the Republic are dissolved: the government, the Senate, the National Assembly, the Constitutional Court, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council and the Gabonese Elections Centre.

“We call for calm and serenity from the public, the communities of sister countries settled in Gabon, and the Gabonese diaspora.

“We reaffirm our commitment to respecting Gabon’s commitments to the national and international community.

“People of Gabon, we are finally on the road to happiness.

“May God and the spirits of our ancestors bless Gabon. Honour and loyalty to our homeland.

“Thank you.”

Ousted President Ali Bongo of Gabon

National Daily Newspaper inquiry found that Ali Bongo Ondimba, the third President of Gabon, has been president since October 16, 2009. He succeeded his father, Omar Bongo, who was life President of Gabon from 1967 unto his death in 2009.
Ali Bongo Ondimba, a member of the Gabonese Democratic Party, after 14 years in office, perpetuated himself as another life president of Gabon by manipulating the August 26 election for his third term in office; this was, however, stopped by the Army on Wednesday.
The Army ousted Ali Bongo to end a cumulative 56 years dynasty – 1967 – 2023 – of the Bongo family in Gabon.