Military Coup in Gabon: Power Seized by Officers

A group of senior Gabonese military officers announced on national television that they have seized power, shortly after the state election body declared President Ali Bongo the winner of a third term. The officers dissolved state institutions, closed borders, and cancelled the election results. Gunfire was reported in the capital, and the whereabouts of President Bongo remain unknown. This potential coup would be the eighth in West and Central Africa since 2020, raising concerns about democratic progress in the region. Tensions were already high in Gabon due to fears of unrest following the election, which lacked international observers and faced allegations of irregularities.