In African Gabon, a group of military announced a coup
According to media reports, the group of the military arrived at the office of the national radio station of Gabon, located in the capital, Libreville, at about 4 in the morning local time. A statement on behalf of the Gabonese army was read on the radio by Lieutenant Ondo Obiang Kelly. According to the military, the current President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, who has been in office since 2009, has completely lost popular confidence and “the time has come to restore democracy.” The restoration of the "power of the people" will take the "National Restoration Council."
Lieutenant Ondo Obiang Kelly, who read the letter, called himself the leader of the “Patriotic Movement of the Military and Special Services of Gabon”.
The statement also sounded that the New Year's congratulation of the President, which he said, speaking poorly after a stroke, made him doubt his ability to govern the country. Gabon’s President Ali Bongo Ondimba himself is currently in Morocco, where he is undergoing a rehabilitation course.
Meanwhile, according to some Western media reports, the putschists were allegedly small in number, they barricaded themselves in the building of the radio station, which is currently surrounded by army units loyal to the authorities. In addition, additional infantry units and Tanks. The city has disconnected internet, in some areas of the capital there is no electricity.
Earlier it was reported that on January 2, the US Army introduced a military contingent in the amount of 80 troops to Gabon with the support of aviation. The deployment of the US military in Gabon was explained by the protection of US citizens located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Television Gabon
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