Gabonese military announce cancellation of elections, dissolve of institutions

WORLD, Aug 30 (YPA) – A group of about ten Gabonese soldiers and police announced on Wednesday, in a statement read on the Gabon 24 television channel, sponsored by the presidency, the annulment of the elections, the dissolution of “all the institutions of the Republic” and the “end of the regime”.

” After noting “an irresponsible and unpredictable governance that translates into a continuous deterioration of social cohesion that runs the risk of bringing the country into chaos. We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime”, said one of the military personnel, speaking on behalf of a “Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions”.

The military also announced the closure of the country’s borders “until further notice.”

AFP reported that during the announcement, journalists heard automatic gunfire in the capital, Libreville.

The army’s move came immediately after Gabon’s national electoral body announced this morning that Ali Bongo, who has ruled the country for 14 years, would be re-elected president for a third term with 64.27 percent of the vote in the last election.

E.M