Soldiers stage coup, declare election ‘fraud’ in Gabon

Senior Gabonese military officers appeared on national television to announce they have taken power.

The group of 12 officers made the announcement shortly after Gabon’s election body reported early on Wednesday morning that President Ali Bongo had won a third term in office.

After observing “irresponsible, unpredictable governance resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion that risks leading the country into chaos… we have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime”, one of the soldiers said, speaking on the Gabon 24 TV channel.

Gabon’s borders have been closed indefinitely by soldiers who appeared to have seized power, as announced in a statement broadcast on the state-run Gabon 24 channel.

There was no immediate comment from the Gabon government, the Reuters news agency reported.

China has called for “all sides” in Gabon to guarantee the safety of President Ali Bongo Ondimba after a group of military officers said they were “putting an end to the current regime” in the West African nation.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne says Parisis following events in Gabon “with the greatest attention”

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says defence ministers from the bloc are to discuss the situation in Gabon.

Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi reporting from Nairobi, Kenya says people have started taking to the streets in Gabon.

Internet, which was out for three days, has been restored in Gabon, the AFP news agency reports.