A group of senior Gabonese military officers announced on Wednesday that they had taken power in a coup d'état, hours after the country's election commission declared President Ali Bongo the winner of a disputed presidential election.
The coup leaders, who appeared on national television, said they were annulling the election results and dissolving all state institutions. They also imposed a curfew and closed the country's borders.
The coup leaders have not yet identified themselves, but they said they represented all security and defense forces in Gabon. They said they had taken action to "defend the peace" and "put an end to the current regime."
The coup has sparked widespread protests in Gabon, with demonstrators taking to the streets of the capital, Libreville, to demand the restoration of democracy.
The coup is a major setback for Gabon, which has been ruled by the Bongo family for over 50 years. Ali Bongo has been president since 2009, following the death of his father, Omar Bongo.
The coup is also a major concern for the international community. Gabon is a major oil producer and a key ally of the West in Africa.
The coup leaders have said they will hold elections in the near future, but it is unclear whether they will be free and fair.
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