Oil –rich Gabon now under military control
Soldiers in Gabon have staged a coup seizing power from the Bongo family who has ruled the oil rich country for over five decades.
According to BBC Africa “they 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 order to prepare for a transition of Democracy.
Presently there is a huge presence of military in the capital city Libreville a mist gunshot.
President Ali Bongo loses control over oil-rich Gabon
The military is still in control of the State Media and are presently making declarations. Blockades are now visible just closed to television stations in Libreville. The military have used their vehicles to block access to the media centers.
Speculations are high that the coup may be very successful given the fact that the Army has taken over the radio station which is closer to the National Assembly and the Presidency. This proximity is said to be a well calculated strategy that might just play a positive role in the coup.
Ali Bongo who is reported presently receiving treatment in Morocco from a stroke he suffered months back has been out of the country for a while due to his ill health. He came to power in October 2009 succeeding his father Omar Bongo Odimba who has ruled the country for over for decades.
As the event continues to unfold, the government is still to make a statement.
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