President Ali Bongo was declared the winner of Saturday’s election, which they annulled.

According to the electoral commission, Mr Bongo won just under two-thirds of the votes in an election that the opposition claimed was rigged.

In Gabon, his family has held power for 53 years.

Wednesday, 12 soldiers appeared on television and announced the results of the election had been canceled and all republican institutions had been dissolved.

Additionally, the country’s borders have been closed “until further notice”.

According to a soldier on TV channel Gabon 24, “We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime.”

According to him, this is due to “irresponsible, unpredictable governance that continues to deteriorate social cohesion and threatens to lead to chaos”.

As a result of the broadcast, journalists from Reuters and AFP reported hearing loud gunfire in Libreville, the country’s capital.

As a result of the soldiers’ announcement, the government did not respond immediately.

During Saturday’s election, there were serious concerns about the process, as in previous elections.

Albert Ondo Ossa, the main opposition candidate, complained that many polling stations did not have ballots bearing his name, while the coalition he represents said names of withdrawing candidates were still on the ballots.

Reporters Without Borders said foreign media were banned from entering the country to cover the vote.

As polls closed, the government imposed a curfew and suspended internet access.

Previous opponents contested both of Mr Bongo’s wins as fraudulent. Just weeks before election day, controversial changes were made to voting papers.

Upon the death of his father Omar in 2009, Mr Bongo came to power.

His stroke in 2018 sidelined him for almost a year and led to calls for him to step down.

In the following year, mutinying soldiers were imprisoned after a failed coup attempt.