Crowds in Gabon Celebrated with soldiers on Wednesday after they claimed to have arrested the recently re-elected president in an attempted coup.
“The National and International Community is informed that Mr. Ali Bongo Ondimba is being kept under house arrest and he is surrounded by his family and doctors. An investigation will be carried out by the competent authorities and those concerned will answer to their actions,” Announced Army spokesman. “Gabonese people, we are finally on the road to happiness, May God and the hand of our ancestors bless Gabon,” he concluded his speech.
In a video that appeared online, the ousted Gabonese leader Ali Bongo Ondimba was seen calling for help from whoever may be willing to help him overturn the coup.
“Am Sending a message to all friends that we have all over the world telling them to make noise for the people here have arrested me and separated me from my family,” Mr Bongo said in the short clip video that went viral online.
Ondimba has been in power since 2009 after he preceded his father, Omar Bongo, who had been Gabon’s President from 1967 to 2009 when he passed away.
“I assure you that what the Gabonese people wanted was just for the Bongos to leave power because 60 years is just too much and there had been an intervention because until now Gabon was simply an open Prison,” One Gabonese Citizen, Giles Safou Living in Senegal said while speaking to Global News.
International Government officials are now calling for the country’s military to release the ousted president and restore order in the country.
“France condemns the military coup d’état that is taking place in Gabon. France is closely monitoring the development of the situation and reaffirms its wish for the election results, once known to be respected,” Olivier Veran, French government spokesman said.
On the other hand, Chinese government has also come out to encourage the warring parties in Gabon to solve their differences amicable for the sake of peace and development.
“China is closely following the situation in Gabon, We call on all sides in Gabon to proceed from the fundamental interest of the country and to the people, settle differences through dialogue and restore normal order as soon as possible.
