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Military Officers in Gabon Attempt a Coup Military Officers in Gabon Seize State Radio in Apparent Coup
(35 minutes later)
LIBREVILLE, Gabon — Military officers in Gabon attempted to stage a coup early Monday morning, seizing the state radio station and declaring their dissatisfaction with President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who is recovering from a stroke in Morocco. Soldiers in Gabon have apparently attempted to seize power in a coup, taking over state radio on Monday and announcing plans for a “national council of restoration” in a country where the ruling Bongo family has been dogged by accusations of corruption and fraud for nearly half a century.
A New Year’s Eve address by Mr. Bongo “reinforced doubts about the president’s ability to continue to carry out of the responsibilities of his office,” said Lt. Kelly Ondo Obiang, the leader of the self-declared Patriotic Movement of the Defense and Security Forces of Gabon. Ali Bongo Ondimba, the president, has been out of Gabon since October while receiving medical treatment for what many believe was a stroke he suffered while attending a conference in Saudi Arabia. He had sought to reassure the nation he was fit during a New Year’s Eve speech televised from Morocco, where he is recuperating.
The radio message was broadcast at around 4:30 a.m. local time. A spokesman for the president said he would make a statement shortly. Lt. Kelly Ondo Obiang, the leader of the self-declared Patriotic Movement of the Defense and Security Forces of Gabon, said on state radio that the speech “reinforced doubts about the president’s ability to continue to carry out of the responsibilities of his office,” Reuters reported. Local news media reported that shots had been heard in Libreville, the capital, early Monday.
Mr. Bongo, 59, was hospitalized in October in Saudi Arabia after a stroke. He has been in Morocco since November to continue treatment. There was no immediate comment from Mr. Bongo or his administration about the developments in Gabon, where his family has long been criticized for enriching itself with proceeds from the country’s rich oil and mineral wealth while much of its population lives in poverty.
In his speech on New Year’s Eve, Mr. Bongo acknowledged health problems but said he was recovering. He slurred some of his words and did not move his right arm, but otherwise appeared in decent health. During his speech on New Year’s Eve, Mr. Bongo said, “It is true that I have been through a difficult period, as sometimes happens in life. Today, as you can see, I am better and I am preparing to meet you again soon.”
The Bongo family has ruled the oil-producing country of Gabon for nearly half a century. Mr. 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 video failed to put the matter to rest, with observers noting that Mr. Bongo slurred some words and did not move his right arm.
Mr. Bongo’s time as president has been accompanied by criticism that he has carried out fraudulent elections, sometimes to violent ends, in hopes of hanging on to power. His father, Omar, was president for 42 years before dying in office in 2009.
When Mr. Bongo was first elected to replace his father, logistical issues during an unanticipated election led to accusations of irregularities. Mr. Bongo edged out his opponent, Jean Ping, but the 2016 contest was marred by accusations that the vote counting was tainted by fraud.
Protesters at the time set fire to the national parliament building, and the presidential guard was accused of attacking Mr. Ping’s headquarters, killing two people and wounding others.
Yet Mr. Bongo’s actions to protect his nation’s relatively untouched forests, savannas and coastlines, all teeming with wildlife, earned praise from conservationists.
Mr. Bongo, who served as foreign and defense minister before becoming president, is almost entirely French educated, and is also a jazz musician who years ago released a funk album.
With tensions running high in nearby Congo after recent presidential elections, President Trump said on Friday that he had sent about 80 troops to Gabon in case the election dispute made it necessary to evacuate Americans.With tensions running high in nearby Congo after recent presidential elections, President Trump said on Friday that he had sent about 80 troops to Gabon in case the election dispute made it necessary to evacuate Americans.