Gabon Coup: President Ali Bongo Speaks For The First Time

The president of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba has called on neighboring countries to come to his aid to halt the current coup in the country. He has called on the world for help even when he is under house arrest by the senior military officers who enacted the coup.

In a viral video, Ali Bongo, sitting in a chair saying “I don’t know what will happen”. He continued saying “All the friendly countries of the world should make themselves heard”.

The president said he is at his residence, but added that he is not with his wife or son, who is being held in a different location. Last night, a small group of soldiers broadcast on live TV that Bongo had been deposed, that the state had been suspended, and that the borders had been closed.

Why The Coup In Gabon? President Ali Bongo Under House Arrest

President Ali Bongo was put under house arrest by some senior military officers in Gabon after Gabon’s electoral commission declared him the winner of the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections on Saturday.

READ ALSO: Gabon Coup: All You Need To Know

Military officials declared the dissolution of “all the organs of the Republic of Gabon” and closed Gabon’s borders, citing what they described as “irresponsible and unpredictable governance”.

“The general election on August 26, 2023, and the results of that election are hereby annulled,” a military official said.
Gabon’s electoral commission said on Saturday that President Bongo, in power for more than a decade and a half, had won his third term with 64.27% of the votes cast.

He and his main rival, OndeOssa, topped the 14-candidate race in the presidential, legislative and parliamentary polls held on Saturday.