Gabon’s government has said that four soldiers who attempted to oust President Ali Bongo have been arrested.
The Soldiers on Monday said they had seized power ousting the president after launching a coup.
The soldiers in a televised message to Gabonese said their action was meant “to restore democracy” to the country.
The arrested solders appeared on state television shortly after the a coup with an army soldier. He was flanked by two others holding guns.
The army soldier read out a statement announcing that the military had seized control of the government.
The officer said in the statement that he “calls on all young people from forces for the defence and security and Gabonese young people to join us”.
“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 further said.
#Gabon Coup unfolding. The army has taken control of #Libreville pic.twitter.com/WOpTQObL4W
— CGR.NewYork (@CGR_newyork) January 7, 2019
Soldiers were reported to be paroling the streets of the capital, Libreville with military tanks and armed vehicles.
Gabon’s communication minister is reported by Radio France Internationale as saying that the soldiers who tried to overthrow the president have been arrested.
#Gabon: Minister of communication says mutineers have been arrested by GIGN units (elite tactical units), situation is under contol and order will be restablished in two or three hours. Coup attempt over? #Bongo
— Daniel Finnan (@Daniel_Finnan) January 7, 2019
Coup attempt condemned
The African Union has already condemned the attempted coup. The AU commission’s chairperson sent a tweet shortly after the news.
The @_AfricanUnion strongly condemns the coup attempt this morning in #Gabon. I reaffirm the AU’s total rejection of all unconstitutional change of power.
— Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) January 7, 2019
President Ali Bongo has been undergoing medical treatment in Morocco. He suffered stroke last year during a trip to Saudi Arabia.
He appeared in a New Year’s eve TV broadcast telling citizens that “Today, as you can see, I am better and I am preparing to meet you again soon.”
Bongo further said in the video “It is true that I have been through a difficult period, as sometimes happens in life.”
He was seen seated at a table without his lower body being shown.
Bongo absence creates crisis
With Ali Bongo’s absence due to illness the Gabon constitutional court moved to end a governance crisis.
The Constitutional Court said it had to modify the constitution to address the scenario of “temporary incapacity” by the head of state.
The constitution, before the amendment by the court, says only the president can authorise the vice president to organise a cabinet meeting.
The court says it had to modify that to insert the text that said “In the event of the temporary unavailability of the president… certain functions… may be carried out either by the vice president or the prime minister accordingly, on special authorisation of the Constitutional Court.”
There have been sharp criticisms from opposition political parties though to this move.
Bongo became President in 2009 taking over from his father Omar Bongo. His father had been president for more than 40 years.
This year a new constitution was adopted in Gabon scrapping the country’s presidential term limit of two seven-year term.
The new constitution received overwhelming votes from members of Gabon’s national assembly.
Source: Africafeeds.com
