[7] During the rule of the Bongo family the country had been plagued by accusations of corruption and nepotism,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][excessive citations] several elections had been tainted by reports of fraud or irregularities[15][16][17] (notably, the official results of the 2016 election from the Bongo family's native province of Haut-Ogooué showed Bongo receiving 95.5% of the vote on an alleged 99.9% turnout, an improbable result sparking widespread protests),[15] and the Constitution and electoral laws had been changed multiple times in order to remove term limits, change the voting system to exploit the fractured opposition, and change the timing of elections to ensure the opposition could not rally following a win by the ruling party.

[18] Despite being a member of OPEC,[19] one of Africa's major producers of oil[20] (which accounts for 60% of national revenue), and having one of the highest per-capita GDPs on the continent, Gabon faces serious socioeconomic crises: a third of the population lives below the poverty line of US$5.50 per day,[21] and the unemployment rate among Gabonese aged 15 to 24 was estimated at 40% in 2020.

[23] In a speech delivered on the country's Independence Day on 17 August, Bongo, a close ally of France, insisted that he would not allow Gabon to be subjected to "destabilization", referring to other recent coups in the region.

The country was placed under curfew and internet access was cut off throughout the nation, measures implemented by the government to prevent the spread of "false news" and potential violence.

Soldiers led by high-ranking officers seized control of key government buildings, communication channels, and strategic points within the capital Libreville.

During a televised morning address from the Presidential Palace in Libreville[33] on the state channel Gabon 24, around a dozen military personnel announced the end of the existing regime, with a military spokesperson claiming to be speaking on behalf of a "Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions",[34][28][35] citing "irresponsible, unpredictable governance" that had led to "a continuous degradation of social cohesion, risking pushing the country into chaos.

[43] Trunks, suitcases and bags filled with billions of Central African CFA francs were reportedly seized from their homes,[44] with Ngoulou claiming that some of the money was part of Bongo’s election fund.

[36] Despite his detention, Bongo released a video on social media in which he appeared distressed while pleading for help in English, claiming that he was being held separately from his family while calling on his friends and supporters both in Gabon and around the world to "raise their voice" and "make noise" in response to the coup.

[51] In his inaugural address, he pledged to hold "free, transparent" elections but did not give an exact date as to when, and expressed surprise at international criticism of the coup.

[52] On 7 September, Oligui reappointed Raymond Ndong Sima, who formerly served as prime minister under Ali Bongo before joining the opposition, to head a transitional government comprising personalities from all sides of the political spectrum.

[64] A spokesman for the opposition Alternance 2023 coalition thanked the army for standing up to an "electoral coup d'etat" without bloodshed and called on it to finish counting the results of the annulled election and formally recognize the victory of its candidate, Albert Ondo Ossa, adding that it had invited the security forces to take part in discussions "to work out the situation within a patriotic and responsible framework".

[68] Moussa Faki, the head of the African Union Commission, condemned the coup and called on Gabon's security forces to "adhere strictly to their republican vocation" and guarantee the safety of Bongo, his family, and members of his government.

[71] The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) also condemned the military use of force and asked for restoration of constitutional order,[72] It also suspended Gabon's membership in the bloc on 5 September[73] and moved its headquarters from Libreville to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

It later designated Central African Republic President Faustin Archange Touadera to mediate with Oligui, during which the two sides agreed to draft a roadmap towards the restoration of democracy.

[74] The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the coup would increase instability in Africa, calling it a "big issue for Europe".

[78] Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin called for "relevant sides in Gabon to resolve differences peacefully through dialogue", and for ensuring President Bongo's safety is guaranteed.

[82] Canada also called for a "quick, peaceful" return to democratic and civilian-led rule, while Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said the country would evaluate its involvement in peacekeeping missions in Africa.