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DEVELOPING STORY: Gabon Military Officers Seize Power Amid Election Fraud Allegations

Television announcement comes shortly after state election body announces incumbent Ali Bongo had won a third term as president.

In a developing story, a group of senior military officers in Gabon has taken to national television, declaring that they have seized power due to the lack of credibility in the recent elections held over the weekend. The officers, appearing on Gabon24 in the early hours of Wednesday morning, announced the cancellation of the elections, dissolution of all state institutions, and closure of the country’s borders. They claim to represent all security and defense forces in Gabon.

This significant development comes just after the state election body confirmed that President Ali Bongo Ondimba had secured a third term in office following the disputed elections on Saturday. According to the Gabonese Election Center, Bongo obtained 64.27 percent of the vote, while his main challenger, Albert Ondo Ossa, received 30.77 percent. However, the election process was plagued by delays, casting doubts on its legitimacy.

The military officers explained their actions by stating, “In the name of the Gabonese people… we have decided to defend the peace by putting an end to the current regime.” They accuse the government of consistently disregarding the will of the Gabonese people and are determined to bring about change.

The situation in Gabon remains uncertain and tense. Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi, reporting from Kenya, highlights the multitude of uncertainties surrounding the military’s takeover. She states, “There is a lot of tension as well. They [military leaders] are claiming that the government has not been respecting the will of the Gabonese people for so many years and they say that has to change.”

During the election, the opposition camp criticized the process as a “fraud orchestrated by Ali Bongo and his supporters.” The internet was cut off, and a curfew was imposed, further intensifying the atmosphere. Additionally, French media outlets, including France 24, RFI, and TV5 Monde, were banned for allegedly lacking objectivity and balance in their coverage of the elections, according to the government.

Access to information within Gabon is severely restricted due to the ongoing internet shutdown. Al Jazeera’s Soi points out the challenges faced by the Gabonese population, stating, “It is very hard for people in Gabon to access the information that they need to know what is happening.” This lack of information adds to the fear and unease among the populace.

President Ali Bongo, who was seeking re-election, is currently unaccounted for. The military officers did not disclose his whereabouts, and the situation in Gabon is evolving rapidly, making it challenging to ascertain the president’s status.

Tensions had been escalating in the lead-up to Saturday’s vote, with the opposition striving to end the Bongo family’s decades-long dominance of the country. The military’s intervention has now plunged Gabon into further uncertainty and potential violence.

AI legalese decoder can play a crucial role in this situation by analyzing the legal implications of the military’s actions and the electoral fraud allegations. By dissecting complex legalese terminology and providing accessible explanations, the AI legalese decoder can enable both legal experts and the general public to understand the legal framework surrounding these events. This will promote transparency, ensure informed discourse, and help navigate the evolving legal landscape in Gabon.

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