Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Algerian Foreign Ministry: The Algerian President directs Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf to head to Niamey as soon as possible
Algerian Foreign Ministry: Niger’s acceptance of the Algerian initiative strengthens the option of a political solution to end the crisis
Algerian Foreign Ministry: Algeria received official approval from Niger concerning the Algerian mediation initiative to resolve the crisis
Armenia says Azerbaijani forces open fire in border region
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli Supreme Court decides to return the case of prisoner Kayed al-Fafsous to the Military Court of Appeals
Egyptian media, citing medical sources: Ambulances transported about 100 injuries to hospitals as a result of the Ismailia Security Directorate fire
Egyptian media: The number of people injured in the Ismailia Security Directorate fire has risen to 21 people, some of whom are in critical condition.
Turkey carried out air strikes in northern Iraq and destroyed 20 PKK targets: Turkish MoD
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Turkish warplanes carry out an air strike that targeted the Matin area in Dohuk, northern Iraq
Israeli media: The settlers wrote the word “revenge” in the site and uprooted dozens of olive trees

We canceled election results to prevent 'bloodshed': Gabon new leader

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 3 Sep 2023 20:17
  • 1 Shares
  • x

The leader of the transitional phase in Gabon says after the constitution is drafted, electoral systems will be put in place, and elections will be held directly afterward.

  • Gabon
    The leader of the transitional phase in Gabon, General Brice Oligui Nguema (AFP)

The leader of the transitional phase in Gabon, General Brice Oligui Nguema, vowed on Sunday to craft a new constitution for the country, which everyone partakes in its drafting.

During a press conference attended by representatives of local and international media, Nguema indicated that after the constitution is drafted, electoral systems will be put in place, and elections will be held directly afterward.

General Nguema reiterated that ousted President Ali Bongo won the presidential elections through fraud, and therefore, the results were canceled to prevent "bloodshed".

A couple of days ago, the military had reassured international donors they would "respect all commitments" at home and abroad and "phase in" transitional institutions.

On Saturday, Gabon's military leaders announced that the country's land, sea, and air borders will be reopened after they were closed since August 30 due to the recent coup that toppled Bongo, who has since been placed under house arrest, while his son has been detained.

Bongo was toppled moments after being declared winner in bitterly disputed weekend elections. The Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), which includes the heads of all army corps, said he had been "placed in retirement."

The military coup series continues in #Africa as the Gabonese junta depose President Ali Bongo. pic.twitter.com/EIMIay4NAV

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) August 30, 2023

The coup announcement came just moments after the national election authority declared Bongo had won a third term in Saturday's election with 64.27% of the vote.

The poll, condemned as bogus by the opposition, was declared canceled by the new CTRI leaders.

The elections "did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon," they said in a statement.

"Added to this is irresponsible and unpredictable governance, resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion, with the risk of leading the country into chaos."

The African Union's Peace and Security Council strongly condemned the coup and said it decided to "immediately suspend" Gabon until the restoration of constitutional order in the country.

Related News

Gabon's President Nguema in Congo to improve ties, ease isolation

Wife of Gabon's former president charged with money laundering

Gabon's opposition Alternance 2023 alliance had remained silent since the coup, but on Thursday called on the military leaders to acknowledge its victory in the election.

The alliance "invited the defence and security forces to the discussion so as to work out... the best solution," following the vote.

Led by university professor Albert Ondo Ossa, Alternance had earlier accused Bongo of "fraud" and demanded he hand over power "without bloodshed".

Ondo Ossa on Thursday claimed the Bongo clan remained in control and there had not been a coup but a "palace revolution".

"Oligui Nguema is Ali Bongo's cousin," he told France's TV5 Monde.

"The Bongos found that Ali Bongo had to be put aside to be able to properly pursue the Bongo system."

"Oligui Nguema is an underling. Behind him, it's the Bongo clan keeping hold of power," he said, urging international help to "restore order".

Bongo was elected in 2009 following the death of his father, who reputedly amassed a fortune from Gabon's oil wealth.

In 2016, he was re-elected -- again in fiercely disputed conditions -- before suffering a stroke in 2018 that weakened his grip on power.

According to media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the vote was held without international observers, and foreign journalists had been restricted from covering the event.

It is noteworthy that five other countries in Africa -- Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Niger -- have undergone coups in the last three years.

Some former #French colonies in #Africa seem beset by coups, the latest of which is the military takeover in #Gabon. Could these events be attempts to break free from the French #ColonialPact? pic.twitter.com/180e0IBrdD

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 1, 2023

Read more: EU held crisis talks in Gabon, no evacuation plan: The Financial Times

  • Gabon coup
  • Brice Oligui Nguema
  • Ali Bongo
  • East Africa
  • Gabon

Most Read

BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

  • Europe
  • 28 Sep 2023
Who Would Ally with the West: ‘It’s Boring – The Real Excitement is in Asia’

Who Would Ally with the West: ‘It’s Boring – The Real Excitement is in Asia’

  • Analysis
  • 30 Sep 2023
US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

'Not 1 more cent': Americans are done with funding Ukraine's paychecks

  • Europe
  • 30 Sep 2023
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer tells low-income families to buy their children McDonald's burgers.

Austria Chancellor's solution to poor families: McDonald's burgers

  • Europe
  • 29 Sep 2023

Coverage

All
Morocco & Libya Disasters

Read Next

All
Egypt's Ismailia police HQs engulfed with fire (Social media)
MENA

Massive fire engulfs Egypt's Ismailia police HQs, injures dozens

trump
US & Canada

Donald Trump's civil fraud trial opens; business empire at risk

Visitors look at projected paintings and drawings at the Van Gogh exhibit during a preview of the digital exhibition titled "Infinity des Lumieres" in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, on June 28 , 2021. (AFP)
Europe

AI, VR unite to depict Van Gogh's 'mental struggle' in final works

A child being treated in a makeshift ICU bed in California in 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)
US & Canada

Children are dying in US hospitals plagued with ill-prepared ERs: WSJ

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS