LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AP) — Gabon’s president called on his citizens to “make noise” after a coup attempt in the Central African country, saying he was speaking from detention in his residence.
Mutinous soldiers said Wednesday they were seizing power to overturn the results of a presidential election, and claimed to have arrested the president, whose family has held power for 55 years.
Within minutes of the announcement, gunfire was heard in the center of the capital, Libreville. Later, a dozen uniformed soldiers appeared on state television and announced that they had seized power. Gabon’s coup leaders can also play to doubts about the electoral process, Africa, the analyst, said. The vote was not transparent and practically held behind closed doors, she said.
Gabon is a member of the OPEC oil cartel, with a production of some 181,000 barrels of crude a day, but its over 2 million people face high unemployment and rising prices. Nearly 40% of Gabonese ages 15-24 were out of work in 2020, according to the World Bank. Unlike Niger and two other West African countries run by military juntas, Gabon hasn’t been wracked by jihadi violence and had been seen as relatively stable.
France has 400 soldiers in Gabon leading a regional military training operation. They've not changed their normal operations today, according to the French military.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
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