Military seizes power in Gabon after “disputed” election results

   Another Francophone African government has been toppled by the military

The military in Gabon have followed in the footsteps of some Francophone countries in West Africa to seize power on Wednesday on August 30 following what they described as fraudulent  election results

   A BBC report from the central African country said the military officers appeared on national television  to say they have taken power.

   They said they were annulling the results of Saturday’s election, in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba was declared the winner.

   The electoral commission said Bongo had won just under two-thirds of the votes in an election the opposition argued was fraudulent.

   His overthrow would end his family’s 53-year hold on power in Gabon. Gabon is one of Africa’s major oil producers, while nearly 90 percent of the country is covered by forests.

   It joined the Commonwealth in June 2022, becoming one of its few members not to have been a British colony.

   Deposed Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba

Meanwhile, additional reports coming in say, President Ali Bongo , his son and some officials of the deposed government have been arrested by the military junta.