General News of Wednesday, 30 August 2023
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
Coup announcement
Gabones soldiers in the wee hours of Wednesday, August 30, 2023; announced that they have seized power in the Central African country.
The announcement was made via national television.
According to the soldiers, they were setting aside results of August 26 presidential election.
Incumbent Ali Bongo, now ousted, had barely hours prior been declared winner of the poll which the opposition claimed was fraudulent.
Gabon's Electoral Commission declared that Mr Bongo had won a little under two-thirds of the votes.
Video of Republican Guard on streets of Libreville tweeted:
An intial video of developments in the capital, Libreville, has been tweeted by a media consultant.
Trucks carrying members of the Republican Guard are seen driving through town as residents gathered in small pockets cheer them.
Later, there are hundreds shown swarmed around the arriving army trucks singing and dancing as the soldiers make their way through town.
This is the second coup Bongo has faced after a 2019 coup by three soldiers was quashed. The three soldiers took over the state radio station to announce a short-lived takeover.
Neighbouring countries and the international is yet to comment on the developments.
See the video below:
« On est derrière vous ».
— Scheena Donia (@Scheenadonia) August 30, 2023
Ça c’est la réaction d’un peuple qui a élu Ali Bongo « un coup KO » ?
Qui vient de se prendre un KO ce matin ? #Gabon #MaVoixCompte241 pic.twitter.com/ccalBocuDB
Je n’ai qu’une envie, c’est de danser sur « Yayi mamo Gena ooooh… le succès total oooh »#Gabon #Gabon2023 #MaVoixCompte241 pic.twitter.com/c5lH9AZZ5i
— Scheena Donia (@Scheenadonia) August 30, 2023
Élu avec 64% des suffrages vous avez dit ? Le peuple gabonais a vomi Ali Bongo et sans la peur de se faire tirer, il peut enfin l’exprimer. « Ne cassez rien ! »
— Scheena Donia (@Scheenadonia) August 30, 2023
Cette jeunesse qui n’a jamais rien connu d’autre aspire à tant de changement… #Gabon2023 #Gabon #MaVoixCompte241 pic.twitter.com/G3yfHjEEpz
The Bongo family has ruled Gabon for 56 years. Father (42 years) & son (14 years). Gabon is Africa's 7th producer of oil & 3rd exporter of timber, but the poverty is stinking. There was a Presidential election on Saturday. Internet is switched off & there is curfew. Africa! pic.twitter.com/MClaG8VVeO
— Duncan Abigaba (@DuncanAbigaba) August 29, 2023
#Gabon After the announce of the fraudulent electoral results declaring Ali Bongo as winner, the Gabonese army has seized control of the country and has called for the dissolution of all institutions. pic.twitter.com/w6PGfB4oZZ
— Elle Vit Belle (She/Her) (@ElvineBelinda) August 30, 2023
Breaking News: The end of the Bongo rule in Gabon the military appeared on national television announcing that it has taken power. The Bongo family has ruled Gabon for a long time.
— Sophie Mokoena (@Sophie_Mokoena) August 30, 2023
As I feared, the military has announced they're taking over in Gabon. https://t.co/g7BJWfVIom pic.twitter.com/D3QxFOBzgG
— Saddique Shaban (@SaddiqueShaban) August 30, 2023
BREAKING NEWS: Army officers have appeared on television in #Gabon saying they have taken power. They said they were annulling the election results in which President Ali Bongo was declared the winner. "We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime." pic.twitter.com/0Y4Z8g4agI
— Peter Ndoro (@peterndoro) August 30, 2023
Breaking News: A military coup is ongoing in Gabon following controversial elections. The country has been ruled by a father and son since 1967.
— Lawrence I. Okoro ( Sir Law ) (@LawrenceOkoroPG) August 30, 2023
President Ali Bongo has ruled Gabon since 2009.
His father, former President Omar Bongo ruled Gabon from 1967 to 2009. pic.twitter.com/G9IJOuExMA
What happened In Gabon is similar to what In happened In Zimbabwe! What must happen now? pic.twitter.com/pwXKTgGxVa
— African (@ali_naka) August 30, 2023