Cape Town — A group of senior military officers have gone on national television in Gabon saying they have seized power, Al Jazeera reports.

The television news network said the officers said that elections held over the weekend were not credible. The officers said in the broadcast, in the early hours of Wednesday morning (August 30, 2023), that they had cancelled the elections, dissolved all state institutions and closed the country's borders.

They said they represented all security and defence forces of Gabon.

The announcement came shortly after the state election body said President Ali Bongo Ondimba had won a third term in office.

The television appearance is also being reported by the BBC.

UPDATE 15H00 SAST August 30:

A video apparently showing President Ali Bongo saying he is under house arrest is being shared on social media. The coup was announcement shortly after the state election body said the incumbent president had won a third term in office.

There are also reports that the military officer named as the coup leader is G eneral Brice Oligui Nguema.