Coup leaders have placed Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba under house arrest, while one of his sons has been arrested for “treason”.
“President Ali Bongo is under house arrest, surrounded by his family and doctors,” the military officers said in a statement read out on state TV shortly after they had overthrown the government.
Also arrested alongside his son are his close adviser, Noureddin Bongo Valentin; his chief of staff, Ian Ghislain Ngoulou; His deputy, two other presidential advisers and the two top officials in the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG).
They are accused of treason, embezzlement, corruption and falsifying the president’s signature, among other allegations, a military leader said.
A group of Gabonese military officers had announced that they were “putting an end to the current regime” and scrapping official election results that handed a third term to 64-year-old President Bongo.
The coup leaders claimed that the election did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon.
Bongo has been in power since 2009, when he succeeded his father, Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon for 41 years.
READ OTHER STORIES:
2023 Kogi Governorship Election Results Be Transmitted From Polling Units — INEC
NLC Gives Police 48 hrs To Vacate NURTW Secretariat
Tony Elumelu’s Wife Transcorp Stake Soars to N13.21 Billion as Share Price Surges by 10%
Over 60,000 Nigerians Killed In 22 Years— Reps Speaker
