“The situation is calm. The gendarmes who are often stationed there have taken control of the entire area around the radio and TV headquarters, so everything is back to normal”, said Guy-Bertrand Mapangou. a government spokesman.
Mr Mapangou said that the army generals, civil society and opposition
leaders mentioned in the rebels’ statement as potential supporters
would be investigated.
Current leader Ali Bongo succeeded
his father Omar Bongo as president in 2009. He narrowly won re-election
in 2016 in a poll marred by violence and accusations of fraud.
What happened this morning?
The
five soldiers 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”.
In a video circulating on social media, three young soldiers can be seen in a radio studio wearing military fatigues and holding guns.
Lt Kelly Ondo Obiang, who said he represented a group called the Patriotic Movement of the Defence and Security Forces of Gabon, 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”.
The
BBC’s Firmain Eric Mbadinga said the coup attempt came as a huge
surprise. The army has always been seen as loyal to the Bongo family, he
said, because it is dominated by the presidential guard, who mostly
come from Mr Bongo’s home region.
Most of the capital remains
calm, an eyewitness told the Reuters news agency. The French government
and the African Union condemned the attempted coup.
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