BREAKING: Soldiers Take Over Power in Gabon

Some military officers have taken over power in Gabon.

Daily Report Nigeria reports that the army officers announced they had taken over power in the Central African country on Wednesday.

The officers, who introduced themselves as members of the Committee of Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), said they were annulling the results of Saturday’s election, in which President Ali Bongo was declared the winner.

The CTRI said Bongo’s victory was “illegitimate” and that the election had been marred by “electoral irregularities.”

The officers also dissolved “all the institutions of the republic”, saying they would form a new government in the coming days.

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The ousting of Bongo brings to an end a 53-year hold of his family on power in Gabon.

His father, Omar Bongo, first ruled the country for 42 years before his death in 2009. Ali Bongo was elected president in 2009 and again in 2016.

The CTRI’s announcement came after days of protests against Bongo’s re-election. The protests were sparked by allegations of electoral fraud.

The CTRI’s coup is the latest in a series of political upheavals in West Africa.

Most recently, military took over power in Niger, leading to condemnation from many, including the regional bloc Economic Community of West African States.