A coup d'état takes place in Gabon

A coup d'état is taking place in the African country of Gabon. The military overthrew the president who had been ruling the country since 2009.

France24 and Africa News reported this.

Gabon held presidential elections and incumbent President Ali Bongo won a third term. The opposition claimed that the elections were rigged.

During the elections, there were no international observers, some foreign broadcasts were suspended, and the authorities turned off the Internet and imposed a night curfew across the country after the vote.

Afterward, the Gabonese military announced that it was "annulling" the election results and dissolving institutions.

They appeared on television and declared themselves the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions.

Gunfire was heard in the capital Libreville, and the country's borders were closed.