In Gabon on Africa’s west coast, according to the government, a military coup has failed. Several armed soldiers had this morning occupied the state radio and called in a broadcast on the transmitter statement the inhabitants of the country to revolt, said the French broadcaster RFI.
Security forces had arrested the head of the coup and killed two of the soldiers in the operation, RFI quoted President Ali Bongo’s office this afternoon. France condemned the coup attempt in its former colony. The African Union (AU) emphasized that it rejected any unconstitutional transfer of power.
Family Bongo dominates the country
Oil-rich but poor Gabon has been ruled by members of the Bongo family for more than half a century. From 1967 until his death in 2009 Omar Bongo Ondimba ruled, since then son Ali Bongo Ondimba is the president.
The 59-year-old had narrowly overshadowed the 2016 elections. However, the opposition candidate, Jean Ping, fought the result. The President is currently on medical treatment in Morocco, RFI reported. Since the 1960s, despite various unrest in the neighboring countries, there was no attempted coup in Gabon.
