Gabon’s army just attempted a coup by taking over the national radio station

Gabon’s army took over the national radio station today (Jan. 7)
and announced the establishment of a “restoration council,” in an
apparent attempt to overthrow president Ali Bongo.

Military forces behind the coup attempt have self-declared as
the Patriotic Movement of the Defence and Security Forces of
Gabon.

Bongo is recovering from a reported stroke in Morocco and has
been away from Gabon, an oil-rich nation in west Africa, since
October, after first being hospitalized in Saudi Arabia.

Bongo addressed Gabon citizens last week in a New Year’s message
for the first time since October, but in a statement following the
coup attempt, lieutenant Kelly Ondo Obiang, who leads the military
forces behind the government overthrow, said Bongo’s address
“reinforced doubt” about his ability to rule.

The Bongo family has ruled Gabon for 50 years, with Ali Bongo
assuming the role of president in 2009 after the death of his
father, Omar Bongo, who held power for 42 years.

Amid the coup attempt, there have been reports of an internet
shutdown in Gabon, with armored tankers spotted in Libreville, the
capital.

Soldiers in Gabon have appeared on state
television saying they have launched a coup in the west African
country

Early today an army soldier, flanked by two others holding guns,
read out a statement saying the military has seized control of the
government “to restore democracy” pic.twitter.com/qGIZ7B6QIM^[1]

— African Curators (@AfricanCurators) January
7, 2019^[2]

A spokesman for the Gabonese government said that (link in
French) the mutineers have been arrested and that the situation is
under control with order to be fully restored in two or three
hours.

The events in Gabon are the latest in the continent’s long
history of coups, and highlight how despite amassing so much power
to entrench their positions, Africa’s strongmen rulers remain
highly vulnerable, particularly when they’re in positions of
weakness such as when they are out of the country. Disgruntled
citizens who are usually the victims of acute social inequality and
poverty are also typically welcoming of regime change.

One video circulating on social media, for example, shows scenes
of Gabonese celebrating in the streets after the coup attempt.

#Gabon people in the streets, rejoicing.
Internet seems to have been shut down to prevent communication.
pic.twitter.com/xiXIuJjmne^[3][4]

— CGR.NewYork (@CGR_newyork) January
7, 2019^[5]

In 2014, there was a failed coup attempt in Gambia to end
then-president Yahya Jammeh’s long-running rule when he was out of
the country. The most recent coup until Gabon’s was in Zimbabwe in
2017, when the military ousted president Robert Mugabe after three
decades in power.