Gabon government says ‘situation under control,’ rebels arrested in failed coup

The apparent coup is still ongoing, and it is unclear if the
group is backed by a larger force.

The government of the west African country of Gabon said the
country’s ‘situation was under control’ on Monday after several
soldiers attempted a coup d’etat.

Gabon’s military, in a broadcast on national radio Monday
morning, declared their intention to form a “National Restoration
Council” in light of their disappointment with President Ali Bongo
Ondimba, in what appears to be an attempted coup d’etat.

Soldiers stormed the national radio headquarters in Libreville,
Gabon’s capital, stating they were disappointed with Bongo’s
message for the New Year.

Shots were heard in the around state television offices in the
centre of the capital around the same time at 6:30 am (0530 GMT),
and military vehicles blocked access to the site, an AFP
correspondent said.

#Gabon Coup unfolding. The army has taken
control of #Libreville pic.twitter.com/WOpTQObL4W^[1][2][3]

— CGR.NewYork (@CGR_newyork) January
7, 2019^[4]

Military vehicles blocked access to the boulevard where the
offices are located, an AFP correspondent said.The message was read
on state radio by a person who identified himself as the deputy
commander of the Republican Guard and head of a group called the
Patriotic Youth Movement of the Gabonese Defence and Security
Forces.

Local news described the event as an “attempted coup d’etat” and
said the Gabon Republican Guard was seizing power.

Three soldiers wearing the green beret of the Republican Guard
were visible on a video of the speech circulating on social media
and authenticated by AFP.

The movement “calls on all young people from forces for the
defence and security and Gabonese young people to join us,” the
officer said, announcing that a “national restoration council”
would be formed.

“We cannot abandon our homeland,” he said.”The eagerly awaited
day has arrived when the army has decided to put itself on the side
of the people in order to save Gabon from chaos.

“If you are eating, stop; if you are having a drink, stop; if
you are sleeping, wake up. Wake up your neighbors… rise up as one
and take control of the street,” he said on the radio.

Bongo assumed office in October of 2009 and has served as
Gabon’s third president. His family has ruled the oil-rich country
for over half a century.

The 59-year-old leader is currently in Morocco recovering from a
stroke suffered in October, apparently leaving space for the
military to take power.

On December 31, he addressed the country for the first time
since falling ill, saying in a recorded speech from Morocco that he
had “been through a difficult period.

“The Bongo family has governed the oil-rich equatorial African
nation for five decades.

Ali Bongo was elected head of state after his father’s death in
2009.

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

This is a developing story.

AFP contributed to this report.