Coup plotters, who deposed Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba in the early hours of Wednesday, August 30, 2023, have placed him under house arrest, just as they also arrested his son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, for alleged “treason”
The coupists accused Bongo and his son of various charges, including treason, embezzlement, corruption, and falsifying the president’s signature among other allegations.
“President Ali Bongo is under house arrest, surrounded by his family and doctors,” they said in a statement read out on state TV.
“Bongo’s son and close Adviser, Noureddin Bongo Valentin; his Chief of Staff, Ian Ghislain Ngoulou; as well as his deputy, two other presidential advisers and the two top officials in the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party, have been arrested,” one of junta leader said.
Recall that the military officers announced the deposition of Bongo, who has been in power for 14 years, hours after he had been declared the winner by the country’s electoral body in Saturday’s elections.
In a televised statement, the coupists said the vote results had been annulled and “all the institutions of the republic” dissolved with immediate effect.
The military officers under the umbrella of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions gave reasons taking over power from Bongo.
The reasons for their actions included serious institutional, political, economic and social crises as factors responsible for the coup that they tagged, ‘necessary’ for the progress of the West African country.
In their address rendered in French but translated to English by AFP, the military officers said, “Our beautiful country, Gabon, has always been a haven of peace.
“Today, the country is going through a serious institutional, political, economic and social crisis.
“To this end, the general elections of 26 August 2023 and the truncated results are cancelled.
“The borders are closed until further notice.”
Source: AFP
