Gabon Army Seizes National Radio Station In Apparent Coup Attempt

Soldiers in Gabon have reportedly attempted a coup, announcing the establishment of a “restoration council” after taking over the national radio station.

There were reports of shots being fired in the capital Libreville on Monday.

Reading out a statement, the military officers condemned President Ali Bongo who addressed his compatriots last week from Morocco for the first time since reportedly suffering a stroke in October.

A New Year’s address by Bongo “reinforced doubts about the president’s ability to continue to carry out of the responsibilities of his office”, said Lieutenant Kelly Ondo Obiang, leader of the self-declared Patriotic Movement of the Defence and Security Forces of Gabon.

“Once again, one time too many, the wielders of power deceptively continue to instrumentalise the person of Ali Bongo Ondimba, a patient devoid of many of his physical and mental faculties,” said Obiang.

Gunfire in the capital

Gunfire was heard around state television offices in the centre of the capital at about 6:30am (05:30 GMT), and military vehicles blocked access to the site, an AFP news agency correspondent reported.

Violence erupts in Gabon as Ali Bongo elected again

Bongo, 59, is said to have suffered a stroke on October 24 while visiting Saudi Arabia and has since been treated in Morocco. His family has ruled the oil-rich central African nation for nearly half a century.

The president posted a video message recorded in Rabat and distributed via social and traditional media last Monday in which he admitted he had been “through a difficult period”.

But he added: “Today, as you can see, I am preparing to meet you again soon.”

Presidential spokesperson Ike Ngouoni later told AFP, “This speech is proof that President Ali Bongo is fully recovered. His health problems are now behind him.”

American presence

The US military has deployed soldiers and equipment to Gabon amid fears of violent protests in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after its contested presidential election.

US President Donald Trump told US Congress on Friday the first of about 80 troops arrived in Gabon last Wednesday to protect US citizens and diplomatic facilities should violence break out in DRC’s capital, Kinshasa.

Bongo was narrowly re-elected in 2016 following a presidential poll marred by deadly violence and allegations of fraud.

His father, Omar Bongo, ruled Gabon for 42 years before his death in 2009 when Ali Bongo first took power.

Source: aljazeera.com