The army in Gabon has revealed that the ousted President of the country, Ali Bongo Ondimba, is under house arrest.
In an update on on Wednesday, 30 August, the military also announced that Ondimba’s son has been arrested for alleged treason.
The military leaders made this known on national television after announcing that they were “putting an end to the current regime”, according to France 24.
The coup leader annulled the outcome of Saturday’s election, where the incumbent President, Ali Bongo, was declared re-elected and winner of the poll.
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According to the electoral commission, Bongo won under two-thirds of the total votes cast, but the opposition has argued that the poll was fraudulent.
The development would end the 53-year hold on power by the family of Bongo in Gabon.
In a broadcast on Wednesday morning, 30 August, the military officers announced the cancellation of the election they considered not credible.
Also, the senior army officers announced that all state institutions have been dissolved and the country’s borders have been closed.
According to the senior officers, they represented all the country’s security and defence forces.
One of the 12 senior military officers who spoke on behalf of the “Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions“, said; “We have decided to defend peace by ending the current regime.”
The election was said to be barren of international observers while the government of Bongo suspended foreign broadcasts, cut off internet service and imposed night-time curfew across the country.
The concerns over the last election however, informed the decision of the overthrown government.