Shooting in Gabon's capital, military group declares takeover of power

Appearing on Gabon 24 television in the early hours of August 30, the military group claimed to represent the entire security and defense forces of the Central African nation. Reuters reported that a reporter on the ground for the news agency heard heavy gunfire in the capital Libreville in the early hours of the morning after the military group declared control of power.

Before voting in Libreville on August 26

President Ali Bongo Ondimba votes in Libreville on August 26.

They announced the annulment of the election results, the closure of all borders and the dissolution of all state institutions. "In the name of the Gabonese people, we have decided to defend peace by ending the current regime," the military officers said.

There has been no comment from the administration of President Ali Bongo Ondimba.

Tensions have been high in Gabon since the presidential, parliamentary and local elections on August 26, when President Ali Bongo Ondimba sought a third term against his main rival, Albert Ondo Ossa.

According to Anadolu news agency, the government ordered a curfew and indefinite internet shutdown to "avoid the risk of violence and the spread of false information".

Opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa votes on August 26.

Also on August 26, authorities stopped broadcasting French-language channels such as France 24, TV5 and RFI in Gabon, accusing them of reporting without objectivity and fairness during the election.

On August 30, the Gabonese Electoral Center (CGE) announced that President Ali Bongo Ondimba had won a third term with 64.27% of the vote, while Mr. Ossa came in second with 30.77%. The results were announced after several days of delay, leading the opposition to denounce fraud while the government denied the allegations.

Ali Bongo, 64, took over from his father Omar Bongo Ondimba in 2009 after he had ruled Gabon for more than 41 years. He was re-elected in 2016 for a seven-year term. In April, parliament amended the constitution to reduce the presidential term to five years.

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