Rebel officers in Gabon have announced the seizure of power following disputed elections that declared President Ali Bongo Ondimba as the winner. The coup has led to condemnation from the African Union and concern from neighboring Nigeria about the spread of military takeovers in the region.

In response to the disputed elections in Gabon, rebel officers have declared the seizure of power, sparking concerns and condemnation from various quarters. President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family has ruled Gabon for over 55 years, had been declared the winner of the elections, but the opposition accused him of fraud and demanded a peaceful transfer of power.

The coup leaders claimed that they have dissolved all institutions of the republic, canceled the election results, and closed the country’s borders. They cited a “serious institutional, political, economic, and social crisis” in the nation and accused the government of irresponsible governance that has led to social deterioration.

The rebel officers identified themselves as the “Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI)” and stated that their aim is to “defend peace by putting an end to the current regime.” They arrested several high-profile individuals, including Bongo’s son and close adviser Noureddin Bongo Valentin, on charges of treason, embezzlement, corruption, and falsifying the president’s signature.

President Bongo, who appeared in a video appeal, had won a third term in the elections with 64.27% of the vote according to the national election authority. The main opposition, led by Albert Ondo Ossa, accused Bongo of fraud and demanded a peaceful transition of power.

Gabon, a country with a population of around 2.3 million people, has been under the rule of the Bongo family for most of its independent history. The coup in Gabon has raised concerns about the increasing number of military takeovers in Africa, with countries like Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Niger experiencing similar incidents since 2020.

The international community, including the African Union, Nigeria, France, Russia, and China, expressed concern over the situation in Gabon and called for a peaceful resolution through dialogue and adherence to democratic principles.