Gabon coup update: Ousted president calls for help, European Union groans, Internet restored in Gabon

Gabon’s ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba has solicited help, hours after he was put under house arrest by members of his presidential guard in an ongoing coup attempt on Wednesday.

According to Al Jazeera, Bongo confirmed his arrest in a verified video circulating on social media, calling on citizens to “make noise” after the coup attempt. 

IdanNews gathered that people were out in the streets of the Gabonese capital Libreville, celebrating and waving flags in support of the coup.

Recall that idanNews had earlier reported that Gabon Military Officers seized power after election. 

The military junta on Gabon 24 TV claimed to represent all security and defence forces in the Central African nation.

They also said the election results were cancelled, all borders closed until further notice and state institutions dissolved.

The state institutions they declared dissolved included the government, the senate, the national assembly, the constitutional court and the election body. 

The joint statement reads “In the name of the Gabonese people … we have decided to defend the peace by putting an end to the current regime.” 

The servicemen introduced themselves as members of the “Committee of Transition and the Restoration of Institutions”.

Internet restored in Gabon 

Internet, which was out for three days, has been restored in Gabon, the AFP news agency reports.

Internet was restored in Gabon after three days nationwide shutdown imposed by President Ali Bongo’s government as polling drew to a close late Saturday as he claimed it would prevent the spread of “false news” and possible violence. 

‘This is a big issue for Europe’

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says defence ministers from the bloc are to discuss the situation in Gabon.

“If this is confirmed, it is another military coup which increases instability in the whole region,” Borrell, speaking at a meeting of EU defence ministers in Toledo, said.

“The whole area, starting with Central African Republic, then Mali, then Burkina Faso, now Niger, maybe Gabon, it’s in a very difficult situation and certainly the ministers … have to have a deep thought on what is going on there and how we can improve our policy in respect with these countries,” he said.

‘We are finally on the road to happiness 

Gabon’s army officers who claimed to have seized power say the country is “on the road to happiness”, adding that Libreville will respect its commitments “to the national and international community”.

“We call for calm and serenity from the public, the communities of sister countries settled in Gabon, and the Gabonese diaspora,” an officer reading a statement on state TV said.

“We reaffirm our commitment to respecting Gabon’s commitments to the national and international community,” he added.