The Gabonese President, Ali Bongo, has been deposed by the military in the Central African region.
This comes amid move to resolve the removal of a democratically elected president in Niger Republic.
Soldiers were said to have appeared on Gabonese national television in Gabon to announce that they had taken power, according to BBC report.
They said they were annulling the results of Saturday’s election, in which President Ali Bongo was declared the winner.
The soldiers who introduced themselves as members of the CTRI (The Committee of Transition and Restoration of Institutions) said, “We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the regime in power.”
The electoral commission said Bongo’s main challenger, Albert Ondo Ossa, had come in second place with 30.77%. Bongo’s team have rejected Ondo Ossa’s allegations of electoral irregularities.
His overthrow would end his family’s 53-year hold on power in Gabon.
Bongo has been in power for 14 years in the oil-rich West African country. He was first elected in 2009 following the death of his father, Omar Bongo Ondimba, who had ruled the country for 41 years.