Incumbent Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba greets supporters as he arrives at a public gathering in Moanda on Aug. 23, 2016. A group of Gabonese military officers appeared on television on Aug. 30, 2023 announcing they were "putting an end to the current regime" and scrapping official election results that had handed another term to veteran President Ali Bongo Ondimba. During the announcement, AFP journalists heard gunfire ring out in the Gabonese capital, Libreville. (Credit: Marco Longari/AFP)
Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba is being detained at home and one of his sons has been arrested for "treason," military officers said Wednesday, hours after announcing they had overthrown the government.
"President Ali Bongo is under house arrest, surrounded by his family and doctors," they said in a statement read out on state TV.
Bongo's son and close adviser Noureddin Bongo Valentin, his chief of staff Ian Ghislain Ngoulou as well as his deputy, two other presidential advisers and the two top officials in the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) "have been arrested," a military leader said.
They are accused of treason, embezzlement, corruption and falsifying the president's signature, among other allegations, he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, military officers said they had toppled Bongo, who has been in power for 14 years, hours after he had been declared the victor in Saturday's elections.
In a televised statement, they said the vote results had been canceled and "all the institutions of the republic" dissolved.
Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba is being detained at home and one of his sons has been arrested for "treason," military officers said Wednesday, hours after announcing they had overthrown the government.
"President Ali Bongo is under house arrest, surrounded by his family and doctors," they said in a statement read out on state TV.
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