Coup in Africa: 5 Top Facts You Should Know About Gabon as Army Takes Over

Libreville, Gabon - The military has finally taken over power from President Ali Ben Bongo in Gabon after a failed attempt in 2019.

The coup d'etat in Gabon is coming about six weeks after the military junta in the Niger Republic ousted President Mohamed Bazoum from office.

Here are five interesting facts to know about Gabon:

A failed military coup in 2019

As reported by Aljazeera, there was a failed military coup in 2019 when Lieutenant Kelly Ondo Obiang announced the seizure of power through national media.

Obiang identified himself as deputy commander of the Republican Guard and president of the Patriotic Youth Movement of the Gabonese Defense and Security Forces.

Bongo family has ruled for 47 years

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The Bongo family has been in power for almost half a century since 1967. Omar Bongo ruled for 42 years, from 1967 until his death in 2009.

His son, Ali, succeeded his father when he died in 2009, and he has been in power until the recent coup.

Seven-year term

According to Britannica, under the newly amended constitution in Gabon, the president, who is head of state, serves a seven-year term in Gabon.

The president in Gabon is powerful and can exercise his/her power/authority by dissolving the National Assembly and postponing legislation.

Independent

Gabon, a country along the Atlantic coast of Central Africa, became independent from France on August 17, 1960, and has a population of about 2.4m.

Borders

Gabon shares borders with four fellow African countries - Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon to the north, the Republic of the Congo to the east and south and the islands of Sao Tome and Principe off the coast.

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Army takes over power in Gabon after election

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the military has again staged a coup in another African country, Gabon, as army officers appeared on national television and announced the takeover from the democratic government.

The coup leader annulled the outcome of Saturday's election, where the incumbent President, Ali Bongo, was declared re-elected and winner of the poll.

According to the electoral commission, Bongo won under two-thirds of the total votes cast, but the opposition has argued that the poll was fraudulent.

Source: Legit.ng