The attempt to overthrow the Government of President Ali Bongo of Gabon by some suspected Military officers has failed, as the alleged coup was foiled by the loyalist of the President.
The Monday coup which was carried out by some Military officers aggrieved with President Ali Bongo took over state radio in a bid to end the 50 years of rule by President Ali Bongo’s family but failed.
In a report released a few hours ago by Reuters, the Government spokesman Guy-Bertrand Mapangou had announced that the coup has been foiled and that four of the five officers who had taken over the state radio in the capital Libreville were arrested… the fifth officer fled and is being pursued, he said.
The coup which was led by one Lieutenant Kelly Ondo Obiang, who in the radio message to the people of Gabon, had described himself as an officer in the Republican Guard, said Ali Bongo’s New Year’s Eve address from Morocco, where he is recovering from a stroke, “reinforced doubts about the president’s ability to continue to carry out of the responsibilities of his office”.
He continued by saying:
“I call 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 neighbours… rise up as one and take control of the street,” he said on the radio.
He called on people to occupy public buildings and airports throughout the country.
Ali Bongo who is 59, had suffered a stroke in Saudi Arabia in October, and was alleged to have been slurring in his New Year message to Gabonese, and appeared unable to move his right arm. It is unclear if he is able to walk. He has been in Morocco since November to continue treatment.
“The government is in place. The institutions are in place,” Mapangou told France 24.
The Bongo family has ruled the oil-producing country since 1967. Bongo has been president since succeeding his father, Omar, who died in 2009. His re-election in 2016 was marred by claims of fraud and violent protest.
The African Union said it “strongly condemns” the coup attempt and reaffirmed its “total rejection of all unconstitutional change of power”.