Gabon President Ali Bongo, who was ousted from power, has cried for help after he was placed on house arrest.
The ousted President was seen crying for help in a verified video making the rounds on the internet.
He said, “Ali Bongo Ondimba, president of Gabon, and I’m to send a message to all the friends that we have all over the world to tell them to make noise, to make noise for the people here who have arrested me and my family.
“My son is somewhere, my wife is in another place, and I’m at the residence. Right now, I’m in the residence, and nothing happened. Nothing is happening. I don’t know what is going on. So I am calling you, to make noise, to make noise. Make noise, really! I’m thanking you, thank you.”
Bongo is seeking a third term in office to extend his family’s power grip beyond 55 years.
The 12 military officers, members of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), made the announcement on national television and announced the cancellation of the elections.
The Gabonese officers made the announcement on national Television on Wednesday morning a few moments after the Gabonese Election Centre (CGE) announced the election results that was marred by delays.
The statement released by the officers read, Today, August 30 August 2023, we — the defence and security forces, gathered as the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) on behalf of the people of Gabon and as guarantors of the institutions’ protection — have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime.
“To this end, the general elections of August 26, 2023 and the truncated results are cancelled.
“The borders are closed until further notice.
“All the institutions of the Republic are dissolved: the government, the Senate, the National Assembly, the Constitutional Court, the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council, and the Gabonese Elections Centre.