Military says it has seized power in oil-rich Gabon, where the ailing leader's family has ruled for 50 years
Soldiers in the west African country of Gabon say they launched a coup "to restore democracy".
They took control of the national radio station in the early hours of Monday to read a short statement announcing a "National Restoration Council".
Tanks and armed vehicles can be seen on the streets of the capital Libreville.
President Ali Bongo took over power in 2009. He reportedly suffered a stroke in October and received treatment in Morocco.
Mr Bongo sought to put an end to the rumours about his health with a New Year message in which he said he was feeling fine.
Soldiers said they had been disappointed by the message, calling it "a pitiful sight" and a "relentless attempt to cling onto power."
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46779854
US military has deployed soldiers to Gabon amid fears of violent protests in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo in anticipation of . Donald Trump told Congress on Friday that the first of about 80 troops arrived in Gabon on Wednesday to protect US citizens and diplomatic facilities should violence break out in DRC’s capital Kinshasa Voters in Congo went to the polls on December 30, two years after they were first scheduled to be held, to elect the successor to President Joseph Kabila, who has been in power for 18 years. “The first of these personnel arrived in Gabon on January 2, 2019, with appropriate combat equipment and supported by military aircraft,” Trump’s letter to Congress read.“Additional forces may deploy to Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or the Republic of the Congo, if necessary for these purposes.” “These deployed personnel will remain in the region until the security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo becomes such that their presen
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