Gabon’s dethroned President Ali Bongo Ondimba is under house arrest, military officers have said.
“President Ali Bongo is under house arrest, surrounded by his family and doctors,” they said in a statement read out on state TV.
One of the president’s sons had been arrested for “treason”, the statement reportedly added.
In the early hours of Wednesday, August 30, members of the Gabonese army announced they had “put an end to the newly elected, Ali Bongo’s regime as they spoke on national television.
The soldiers on television comprised of members the gendarme, the republican guard and other factions of the security forces.
Shortly after army officers appeared on national television to say they had taken power, large crowds of people went on to the Boulevard Triomphal Omar Bongo, the main street of Gabon’s capital, Libreville according to reports.
“They were waving green, yellow and blue Gabonese flags to celebrate the military takeover”the report said.
Although they were initially mingling with soldiers and thanking them, the military then asked them to return home and move away from strategic areas.