Foreign Affairs

muriel_volestrangler

(101,311 posts) Mon Jan 7, 2019, 05:33 AM Jan 2019

Gabon soldiers declare coup attempt 'to restore democracy'

Military officers in Gabon have staged a coup attempt, seizing the state radio station and declaring their dissatisfaction with President Ali Bongo, who is recovering from a stroke in Morocco.
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Bongo, 59, was hospitalised in October in Saudi Arabia after suffering a stroke. He has been in Morocco since November to continue treatment.
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The Bongo family has ruled the oil-producing country for nearly half a century. 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.

Bongo won re-election in 2016 by fewer than 6,000 votes, sparking deadly clashes between protesters and police during which the parliament was torched.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/07/gabon-military-seize-national-radio-station-in-apparent-coup-attempt

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Gabon soldiers declare coup attempt 'to restore democracy' (Original Post) muriel_volestrangler Jan 2019 OP

Gabon coup attempt: Government says situation under control Eugene Jan 2019 #1

Eugene

(61,874 posts)

1. Gabon coup attempt: Government says situation under control

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Mon Jan 7, 2019, 09:03 AM

Jan 2019

Source: BBC

Gabon coup attempt: Government says situation under control

7 January 2019

The political situation in Gabon is "under control" following an attempted military coup, a spokesman for the government has said.

All five of the rebels who tried to take charge have now been arrested by the authorities.

The junior officers claimed they seized power "to restore democracy" in oil-rich Gabon, where the ailing leader's family has ruled for 50 years.

Tanks and armoured vehicles could be seen in the capital Libreville.

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