Why did military officers overturn Gabon’s 2023 election results?

Following the August 2023 presidential election in Gabon, a group of military officers identifying as the Committee for Transition and Restoration of Institutions seized power and annulled the results.

The officers justified their intervention by citing two primary concerns:
* The election lacked credibility, as there were significant doubts regarding the integrity of the process and a notable absence of international observers.12
* The country was suffering from systemic poor governance under the existing administration.12

Following the coup, the government was dissolved, and the incumbent president, Ali Bongo, was placed under house arrest.12