Residents in the oil rich Gabon, have commended the army for ending the government of President Ali Bongo whose family has held power for 55 years.
The army announced they have officially taken over power from Ali Bongo, the democratically elected President.
The officers appeared on the country’s national television to make the announcement.
The take over of power by the junta is coming after official results showed President Ali Bongo won a third term in office following the country’s election on Saturday.
After seizing power, the soldiers subsequently announced a cancellation of the result, and the dissolution of the country’s institutions.
“We are putting an end to the current regime,” the soldiers said, according to AFP.
Earlier, the country’s electoral commission said that Bongo won Saturday’s election with over 64 percent of the vote. Bongo’s family have held power in Gabon for 55 years.
Concerns had been raised about the fairness of the election, after the government cut internet access and imposed a nighttime curfew after the vote.
Meanwhile, in Gabon residents were seen dancing and celebrating on the streets of its capital, according to videos sighted by OBSERVERSTIMES
In one video obtained by this medium, people can be seen shouting “liberated!” and waving the Gabon flag in the Nzeng Ayong district of the capital, alongside military vehicles.
See picture below:
