MON, JANUARY 07 2019-theG&BJournal- The BBC reports that Junior officers have seized power in oil-rich Gabon, where the ailing leader’s family has ruled for 50 years. According to the report, Soldiers in the West African country say they launched a coup “to restore democracy”.
They took control of the national radio station at 04:30 local time (03:30 GMT) to read a short statement announcing a “National Restoration Council”.
The country’s leader Ali Bongo who succeeded his father Omar Bongo in 2009 has been inactive since he suffered a massive stroke in October 2018 and received treatment in Morocco.
Tanks and armed vehicles can be seen on the streets of the capital Libreville.
He sought to put an end to the rumours about his health with a televised New Year message in which he said he was feeling fine.
According to the BBC, soldiers said they had been disappointed by the message, calling it “a pitiful sight” and a “relentless attempt to cling onto power.”
“It reinforced doubts about his ability to assume the responsibilities of his role as President of the Republic”, said Lt Kelly Ondo Obiang, the leader of the so-called Patriotic Movement of the Defence and Security Forces of Gabon.
He specifically appealed to young people to “take charge of their destiny”.
The insurgents called on soldiers to take control of the transport system, ammunition reserves and airports “in the interests of the nation”.
There is no word so far from the government.
President Trump has deployed soldiers to Gabon to protect US citizens amid fears of violent protests in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo following its presidential election.
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