Gabon has foiled an attempted military coup and arrested several plotters just hours after they took over state radio in a bid to end 50 years of rule by President Ali Bongo's family.

The chief military rebel who led the thwarted coup bid on Monday was arrested and two of his commandos were killed, according to a statement by Gabon's presidency.

"The situation is under control," the statement said.

The remaining two rebels involved in the coup attempt were also taken into custody.

Government spokesman Guy-Bertrand Mapangou told Reuters news agency that authorities have regained control of the state broadcasting offices and a major thoroughfare in the capital Libreville, which were the only areas taken over by the officers.

President Bongo has been away from the country since October after suffering a stroke while attending a summit in Saudi Arabia.

Earlier on Monday, a soldier who identified himself as Liuetenant Obiang Ondo Kelly, commander of the Republican Guard, read out a statement saying the military had seized control of the government of the West African country.

Flanked by two other soldiers holding weapons, the soldier said they were taking over to "restore democracy".

He said Bongo's New Year's Eve address from Morocco "reinforced doubts about the president's ability to continue to carry out of the responsibilities of his office".

In one of his first television appearances since he suffered the stroke in Saudi Arabia in October, Bongo, 59, slurred his speech and he appeared unable to move his right arm.

It is unclear if he is able to walk. He has been in Morocco since November to continue treatment.

Mapangou, the government spokesman, told France 24 that the situation was under control after the arrests.

"The government is in place. The institutions are in place," he said.

A curfew has been imposed over Libreville, and the internet has been cut.

The city on the Atlantic Ocean coast is being patrolled by military tanks and armed vehicles.

Antoine Lawson, a Gabonese journalist, told Al Jazeera the coup attempt had caused panic in Libreville.

"The people are afraid. When the young soldiers asked everyone to come to the streets in support of the coup, nobody did because they were in panic," he said from Libreville.

The African Union affirmed its support for the Bongo government.

"The African Union strongly condemns the coup attempt this morning in Gabon," the head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said on Twitter.

"I reaffirm the AU's rejection of all anti-constitutional change."

Separately, France, which ruled Gabon from 1885 until independence in 1960, said it condemned "any extra-constitutional attempt at regime change".

"The stability of Gabon can only be assured by strict adherence to the provisions of the constitution," foreign ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll said in Paris.

France has a permanent force of 300 soldiers in Gabon. The United States also sent about 80 soldiers to Gabon last week in response to possible violence in Democratic Republic of Congo after a presidential election there.

The Bongo family has ruled the oil-producing country since 1967. Bongo has been president since succeeding his father, Omar, who died in 2009.

His re-election in 2016 was marred by claims of fraud and violent protest.

Gabon, a small country with a population of about two million people, is estimated to be the fourth-richest nation in Africa.

"For the moment we think the coup attempt failed, and that it was the work of a small number of enthusiastic but possibly naive officers," Francois Conradie, head of research at NKC African Economics, told DPA news agency.

The government would now likely use the coup attempt to further impose restrictions on the opposition, he said.

"While Mr Bongo is unpopular, and there are reasons to think his removal would be justified, any incoming government would face the same fiscal pressures as his," Conradie said. </s> Gabon's government has retained control of the West African country after an attempted military coup early Monday, in which two plotters were killed, officials say.

Five army officers who took over state radio in the coup attempt have been arrested, government spokesperson Guy-Betrand Mapangou told Radio France International (RFI).

Authorities have regained control of the state broadcasting offices and a major thoroughfare in the capital, Libreville, which were the only areas taken over by the officers, according to the spokesperson.

Two of the coup participants were killed when security forces took over and freed some hostages, according to a presidential statement reported by RFI.

A still image taken from a video posted on Monday shows military officers giving a statement from a radio station in Libreville, Gabon. Government officials say that soldiers involved in the coup attempt have been arrested. (Handout photo via Reuters)

Earlier Monday, a soldier who identified himself as Lt. Obiang Ondo Kelly, commander of the Republican Guard, read out a statement saying the military had seized control of the government of the West African country in order to "restore democracy."

He was flanked by two other soldiers holding weapons, and all were dressed in camouflage uniforms and green berets.

Those soldiers have been taken into custody and President Ali Bongo's government remains in control, said the government spokesperson.

A curfew has been imposed over the capital, Libreville, and the internet was cut. The city on the Atlantic Ocean coast was being patrolled by military tanks and armed vehicles.

The African Union affirmed its support for the Bongo government.

"The African Union strongly condemns the coup attempt this morning in Gabon," the head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said on Twitter.

"I reaffirm the AU's rejection of all anti-constitutional change."

President away, recovering from a stroke

Bongo, in power since 2009, has been out of the country since October amid reports that he had a stroke. He recently addressed the country in a new year's message that was filmed in Morocco, where he has been receiving medical treatment.

Oil-rich Gabon has been ruled for more than half a century by Bongo and his father, Omar, who died in 2009. Critics have accused the family of profiting from the country's natural resources while not investing enough in basic services for the population of more than two million people. About one-third of the population lives below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.

In his brief New Year's speech, the 59-year-old Bongo declared that the country was "indivisible" and acknowledged his health problems without giving details. "A difficult period," he called it, and a challenge that he surmounted "thanks to God." He promised to put all of his efforts into improving the daily quality of life for Gabon's people.

The French-educated Bongo, the country's defence minister before becoming president, narrowly won re-election in 2016, while opposition rival Jean Ping claimed irregularities and continues to call himself the country's real president. </s> LIBREVILLE, Gabon — Military officers in Gabon attempted to stage a coup early Monday morning, seizing the state radio station and declaring their dissatisfaction with President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who is recovering from a stroke in Morocco.

A New Year’s Eve address by Mr. Bongo “reinforced doubts about the president’s ability to continue to carry out of the responsibilities of his office,” said Lt. Kelly Ondo Obiang, the leader of the self-declared Patriotic Movement of the Defense and Security Forces of Gabon.

The radio message was broadcast at around 4:30 a.m. local time. A spokesman for the president said he would make a statement shortly.

Mr. Bongo, 59, was hospitalized in October in Saudi Arabia after a stroke. He has been in Morocco since November to continue treatment. </s> The Gabon Military has overthrown the government after claiming that President Ali bongo and his family had ruled the country for the past 50 years.

The Military said that the coup was an attempt to restore democracy in the West African Nation. The Military took control of a radio station and made the statement overthrowing the government.

Ondo Obiang the leader of the coup said the coup was being carried out “to restore democracy” and to oust “those who, in a cowardly way, assassinated our young compatriots on the night of August 31 2016” – a reference to deadly violence that erupted after Bongo was declared the winner of a disputed election.

President Ali Bongo suffered a stroke in October and has been ailing and even sort treatment in Morocco. He has been in power since 2009. He was re-elected in2016 in an election that was marred with irregularities.

US troops were deployed in Gabon by Donald Trump last week to be on standby in Congo

In His new year message Bongo acknowledged that he had been ailing but stated that he was doing better.

The Military Tanks and officers were deployed in the capital city of Libreville.

Do you have a story you want told? Do you know of a sensitive story you would like us to get our hands on? Email your news TIPS to [email protected] Also WhatsApp 0708677607 with your news tips </s> The military in Gabon has seized power from the current president, Ali Bongo, whose family has been in office for over 50 years. Ali Bongo succeeded his father Omar Bongo as president in 2009. He narrowly won re-election in 2016 in a poll marred by violence and accusations of fraud.

Soldiers in the oil-rich West African country say they launched a coup “to restore democracy”.

They took control of the national radio station at 04:30 local time to read a short statement announcing a “National Restoration Council”.

Tanks and armed vehicles can be seen on the streets of the capital Libreville.

Mr Bongo, who has been out of the country for two months, reportedly suffered a stroke in October and received treatment in Morocco.

The government is yet to react to this development.

Also, Like us on facebook </s> LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AP) — Gabon's prosecutor general says the arrested coup plotters face life imprisonment under Gabon's penal code.

Olivier N'Zahou said late Wednesday that six individuals staged the coup attempt, including a gendarme who was on duty at the station and was convinced to join the movement at the time of the attempt. Another Republican Guard member joined them as well. He said two were killed and the other four arrested.

This amends earlier statements this week saying that eight were arrested.

N'Zahou said despite attempts for a peaceful surrender, the military officers who tried to take power fired on security forces. The officers on Monday had encouraged youths to help them "restore democracy" in the oil-rich country.

Gabon's ruling party said ailing President Ali Bongo Ondimba will return to the country soon. </s> Gabon President Ali Bongo has appointed a new prime Minister after a thwarted attempted coup by Military officers last week.

The planners of the coup were arrested hours after seizing the National radio station trying to overthrow the President who has been away in Morocco for the past two months after suffering a stroke.

Ondo Obiang the leader of the coup said the coup was being carried out “to restore democracy” and to oust “those who, in a cowardly way, assassinated our young compatriots on the night of August 31 2016” – a reference to deadly violence that erupted after Bongo was declared the winner of a disputed election.

Bongo appointed Julien Nkoghe Bekale as prime minister, replacing Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet, who has served since 2016. He hails from the Fang tribe which is the largest ethnic community in Gabon. Bongo has followed the roots of his father by this appointment broadening the president’s base.

His absence in the country since he suffered his stroke has led many to believe that He was unfit for the presidency although the government has insisted he is recovering well.

Do you have a story you want told? Do you know of a sensitive story you would like us to get our hands on? Email your news TIPS to [email protected] Also WhatsApp 0708677607 with your news tips </s> LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AP) — Gabon’s government has retained control of the West African country after an attempted military coup early Monday in which two plotters were killed, the government said.

Five army officers who took over state radio in the coup attempt have been arrested, government spokesman Guy-Betrand Mapangou, told Radio France International.

Authorities regained control of state broadcasting offices and a major thoroughfare in the capital, Libreville, which were the only areas taken over by the officers, the spokesman said.

Two of the coup participants were killed when security forces took over and freed some hostages, according to a presidential statement reported by RFI.

Earlier Monday a soldier who identified himself as Lt. Obiang Ondo Kelly, commander of the Republican Guard, read out a statement saying the military had seized control of Gabon’s government in order to “restore democracy.” He was flanked by two other soldiers holding weapons; all were dressed in camouflage uniforms and green berets.

Those soldiers have been taken into custody and President Ali Bongo’s government remains in control, the government spokesman said.

A curfew has been imposed over the capital, Libreville, and the internet was cut. The city on the Atlantic Ocean coast was being patrolled by military tanks and armed vehicles.

The African Union affirmed its support for the Bongo government.

“The African Union strongly condemns the coup attempt this morning in Gabon,” the head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said on Twitter. “I reaffirm the AU’s rejection of all anti-constitutional change.”

Bongo, in power since 2009, has been out of the country since October amid reports that he had a stroke. He recently addressed the country in a New Year’s message that was filmed in Morocco, where he has been receiving medical treatment.

Gabon, which is sub-Saharan Africa’s third-largest oil producer, has been ruled for more than half a century by Bongo and his father, Omar, who died in 2009. Critics have accused the family of profiting from the country’s natural resources while not investing enough in basic services for the population of more than 2 million. About one-third of the population lives below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.

In his brief New Year’s address, the 59-year-old Bongo declared that the country was “indivisible” and acknowledged his health problems without giving details. “A difficult period,” he called it, and a challenge that he surmounted “thanks to God.” He promised to put all of his efforts into improving the daily quality of life for Gabon’s people.

The French-educated Bongo, who was the country’s defense minister before becoming president, narrowly won re-election in 2016 in a vote opposition rival Jean Ping claimed was plagued by irregularities, and he continues to call himself the country’s real president.

This story has been corrected to show that Bongo’s New Year’s address was not from a hospital bed.

Copyright © 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed. </s> Gabon's President Ali Bongo, who has been out of the country for two months recovering from a stroke, named a new prime minister on Saturday in an apparent effort to shore up his political base days after a failed coup attempt.

The plotters of Monday's coup attempt were arrested or killed within hours of seizing the national radio station, but the move reflected growing frustration with a government weakened by Bongo's secretive medical leave in Morocco.

In a decree read by the secretary-general of the presidency on national television early on Saturday morning, Bongo named Julien Nkoghe Bekale as prime minister, replacing Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet, who has served since 2016.

Issoze-Ngondet's tenure was marked by a sharp drop in oil output and prices that has squeezed revenues, raised debt and stoked discontent in the OPEC member state.
The government of Gabon quashes a coup d'état by soldiers. The attempt took place while the country's president, Ali Bongo, was undergoing medical treatment in Morocco.