Military announce they have taken control in Gabon

Cheering crowds gathered in towns and cities in Gabon after military officers said they had taken power following the disputed re-election of President Bongo, whose family has ruled the oil-rich state for almost 56 years. The uniformed group claimed to represent all security and defence forces in the central African nation. It said all borders had been closed and the election results cancelled. Gunfire could be heard afterwards in the capital, Libreville, witnesses said — but there were also scenes of celebration at news that the Bongo era could be at an end. The whereabouts of the 64-year-old president are not clear, but the apparent coup leaders claimed he is under house arrest, with his son held too. There are also rumours, however, that the president left for Morocco on Sunday as tensions grew over possible vote-rigging following Saturday’s presidential, parliamentary and legislative elections. Election results announced at 4am gave Bongo per cent of the vote. Within hours the soldiers, including a senior figure from Bongo’s presidential guard and one of his cousins, had appeared on television. If successful the coup would represent the tenth in Africa in four years — all in the west and centre of the continent — following last month’s power grab in Niger. Read the best of our journalism: Subscribe to The Times and The Sunday Times YouTube channel: Find us on Facebook: Find us on Twitter: Find us on Instagram: