The drama in oil-rich Gabon is in full swing: ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba released a video calling on "friends from all over the world to make noise" about the coup in the country.
Hours after a group of military personnel announced their seizure of power, President Bongo Ondimba was seen sitting in a room filled with books and carpets – he claimed to be in his residence – and said: "My son is somewhere, my wife is somewhere else. I don't know what's going on. Friends, please act. Thank you."
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Reminder: This morning, senior officers of the Gabon army appeared on a state television channel and announced that they were seizing power in the country, dissolving its institutions and canceling the results of the elections held on Saturday.
Residents in Akanda, Gabon, jubilant, photo: AP
Not surprisingly, President Bongo won 64.27% of the vote and was elected to a third term. Bongo was first elected in 2009, replacing his father, Omar Bongo, who had ruled the country since 1967. The Bongo family's control of the country, without canceling the elections, makes Gabon a prime example of electoral authoritarianism – a regime that simulates democracy and serves as a façade for single rule.
In any case, according to the officers, the elections were once again not transparent, fair and credible, as "the Gabonese people requested" – and their statements were not made without basis. The elections were held without international supervision and with internet disconnections, while some polling stations did not even have forms with the name of opposition candidate Albert Ondo Osa.
This afternoon, the president's son, Noor ad-Din Bongo Valentan, the president's chief of staff, two presidential advisers and two senior members of the ruling PDG party were arrested.
France, Russia, China and the British Union of Nations expressed concern over the unfolding coup. For his part, Josep Borrell, Europe's High Commissioner for Foreign Policy, said: "If successful, it will be another coup that increases instability in the entire region. The whole region, from the Central African Republic, to Mali, Burkina Faso, most recently Niger and now maybe Gabon, is in a very complex situation, and we all need to think about how we can improve our policy towards these countries." Borrell was speaking before EU defense ministers meeting in Toledo, Spain.
"Improve policy." Borrell, Photo: Reuters
Gabon occupies the fifth place in Africa in oil production. 50% of its gross domestic product is based on black gold, accounting for 80% of its exports. Despite incomes, Gabon has one of the poorest populations in Africa.
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