Ali Bongo Ondimba is the president of Gabon who was recently ousted in a coup attempt by a group of military officers.
He comes from a political family that has controlled the country for over 50 years.
Ali Bongo is the son of Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon for 42 years until his death in 2009.
He succeeded his father as president and has been in power since then. He has faced criticism for alleged corruption and authoritarianism during his tenure.
The coup attempt in Gabon occurred shortly after Ali Bongo was declared the winner of a disputed election.
The election faced criticism from international observers, who raised concerns about irregularities and the lack of transparency.
The coup was seen as an attempt to challenge the legitimacy of the election results.
The coup in Gabon was announced by mutinous soldiers who claimed to have seized power in the capital city, Libreville.
They declared that their intention was to remove President Ali Bongo from power and end his family’s political dynasty.
Where is Ali Bongo now?
The exact location where Ali Bongo is at the moment is not known.
However, Africa News reported that the Gabon President is under house arrest surrounding by his doctors and family.
Additionally, the military behind a coup d’état announced that one of his sons has been arrested, notably for high treason.
A statement read out on state television by the military of the Comité de Transition et de Restauration des Institutions (CTRI) stated;
“Noureddin Bongo Valentin, son and close adviser to the head of state, Ian Ghislain Ngoulou, Bongo’s chief of staff, Mohamed Ali Saliou, his deputy chief of staff, Abdul Hosseini, another presidential adviser, Jessye Ella Ekogha, special adviser and presidential spokesman, as well as the number one and two members of Bongo’s all-powerful Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) are under arrest.”
Coup in Gabon
In Gabon, a coup has taken place led by a group of senior military officers.
The coup attempt occurred shortly after President Ali Bongo was declared the winner of a disputed election.
On August 30, 2023, mutinous soldiers in Gabon announced that they had seized power in the capital city, Libreville.
They claimed that their intention was to overturn the results of the election, which had been criticized by international observers.
As part of the coup, Ali Bongo was placed under house arrest.
The mutinous soldiers asserted that the president’s family, which has ruled Gabon for 55 years, was the target of their actions.
The coup occurred in the aftermath of a disputed election in Gabon.
President Ali Bongo had been declared the winner of the election, but it faced criticism from international observers.
The mutinous soldiers saw the coup as a way to challenge the legitimacy of the election results.
The soldiers involved in the coup announced the cancellation of the elections following President Ali Bongo Ondimba’s victory.
The election itself had been marred by controversy and allegations of irregularities.
It is important to note that the situation in Gabon is still unfolding, and the full implications of the coup are yet to be seen.
The international community will likely closely monitor the developments in Gabon and assess the impact on the country’s political stability and governance.
International response to the coup
The international response to the coup in Gabon has been largely critical and concerned about the stability of the country and the region.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell expressed concern about the coup, stating that it would increase instability in Africa as a whole.
This highlights the potential impact of the coup on regional stability.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, condemned the military coup and emphasized the importance of free and transparent elections.
China’s response reflects a commitment to democratic processes and stability in Gabon.
The coup in Gabon has drawn attention from the international community.
The mutinous officers involved in the coup vowed to respect Gabon’s commitments to the national and international community.
However, the coup attempt itself threatened these commitments and raised concerns about the country’s governance.
It is important to note that these responses represent only a snapshot of the international reaction to the coup in Gabon.
As the situation continues to unfold, more countries and international organizations are likely to express their concerns and call for a peaceful resolution.
The international response to the coup in Gabon underscores the significance of democratic processes, stability and respect for the rule of law.
The focus is on ensuring that Gabon can navigate this challenging period and find a peaceful and inclusive solution to the political crisis.