Gabon Coup: Full Speech of Military After Taking Over Power
- President Ali Bongo of Gabon became the latest African president removed through a military coup on Wednesday morning
- 12 Army officers, in a broadcast on Wednesday morning, announced the nullification of the recent election and declared their taking over of the affairs of the state
- In the full speech read by one of the military that staged the coup, they said they planned to secure the peace of the country
- Leoni Mills, Founder of the African Youth Security Network, told YEN.com.gh in an exclusive interview that Africa's huge youth population crave positive change
A group of 12 army officers staged a military coup in Gabon and toppled the elected democratic government in the country. The senior army officers said they were “putting an end to the regime” and nullified the recent election in the Central African country.
Army officers appeared on national television and announced the takeover of the democratic government.
Source: UGC
The coup leaders explained that they had been forced to oust the democratically elected president Ali Bongo action because the country was going through a serious institutional, political, economic and social crisis.
The junta has named General Brice Oligui Nguema as the transitional president.
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Africa's youth yearn for change
Founder of the African Youth Security Network, Leoni Mills, has said the wave coups reflect the desire of the youth for accountable governance.
She told YEN.com.gh in an exclusive interview that Africa's huge youth population crave positive change.
"The average age of Africans is 19 so many of the youth yearn for change; unfortunately many governments make it so difficult to hold leaders accountable that they are now gravitating towards coups as the only other option," she said.
Below is the full speech of the army, which was read by one of the 12 coup leaders on the Gabon 24 television channel on Wednesday morning, August 30.
Full speech of army that took over in Gabon
Read the full speech here:
“Our beautiful country, Gabon, has always been a haven of peace.
“Today, the country is going through a serious institutional, political, economic and social crisis.
“We are therefore forced to admit that the organisation of the general elections of 26 August 2023 did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon.
“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.
“Today, 30 August 2023, we — the defence and security forces, gathered as the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) on behalf of the people of Gabon and as guarantors of the institutions’ protection — have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime.
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“To this end, the general elections of 26 August 2023 and the truncated results are cancelled.
“The borders are closed until further notice.
“All the institutions of the Republic are dissolved: the government, the Senate, the National Assembly, the Constitutional Court, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council and the Gabonese Elections Centre.
“We call for calm and serenity from the public, the communities of sister countries settled in Gabon, and the Gabonese diaspora.
“We reaffirm our commitment to respecting Gabon’s commitments to the national and international community.
“People of Gabon, we are finally on the road to happiness.
“May God and the spirits of our ancestors bless Gabon. Honour and loyalty to our homeland.
“Thank you.”
Coup: Cancellation of election, 3 other actions army has taken in Gabon
YEN.com.gh earlier reported that about 12 senior military officers announced the taking over of power in Gabon in the wee hour of Wednesday.
The development will make the Central African country the eighth that will be under military rule in the black continent.
On Wednesday morning, the coup plotters made four announcements as they said their plan was to secure the country's peace.
Mali and Burkina Faso dare Tinubu, ECOWAS over military intervention threat in Niger
Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh has reported in an earlier story that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have been warned not to initiate a foreign military intervention in Niger.
The warning was issued by the military leaders of Mali and Burkina Faso via a statement released on Monday, July 31.
The allied forces (Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger) warned ECOWAS that an attempt to carry out its threat would be a declaration of war.
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Source: Legit.ng
