African Union Condemns Coup Attempt In Gabon

The African Union (AU) has strongly condemned the coup attempt
this morning in Gabon.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki
Mahamat, reaffirmed the “AU’s total rejection of all
unconstitutional change of power.”

Mahamat’s statement was delivered on a twitter a few hours after
the attempted coup became known through mainstream media.

Gabonese juniour soldiers had captured a state radio early on
Monday and anounced that a “national restoration council” has been
formed.

The developments are unfolding with ailing President Ali Bongo
still hospitalised in Morocco, even though he managed to deliver a
New Year’s Eve televised message.

Later on, shots were fired around the state television premises
and the capital around 06:30am.

Media reports say military vehicles immediately raised a blocked
to avaoid access to the site.

The Gabonese government has just announced that the ‘situation
under control’, and that the “rebels” have also been arrested.

The coup attempt has happened two days after US President,
Donald Trump, deployed 80 heavily armed troops in the country
saying he was preparing for evacuation of American citizens could
there be violence in DR Congo due to the ongoing disputes over the
just concluded election.

AFP