大象传媒

Army officers have appeared on national television in Gabon to say they have taken power. They said they were annulling the results of Saturday's election, in which President Ali Bongo was declared the winner. His overthrow would end his family's 53-year hold on power in Gabon. The electoral commission said Mr Bongo had won just under two-thirds of the votes in an election the opposition argued was fraudulent.

Charles St茅phane Mavoungou, a journalist in Gabon, told Newsday he was woken up by a friend who said a coup is happening. The announcement was played nonstop on television. Army officers announced they were cancelling the results of the election and dissolving "all the institutions of the republic". They added that the country's borders had been closed "until further notice".

(Photo shows residents applaud members of the security forces in the Plein Ciel district Libreville on August 30, 2023 after a group of Gabonese military officers appeared on television announcing a coup. Credit : Getty Images)