Gabon coup attempt foiled

The government of Gabon says the situation is under control following an attempted military coup. Junior officers claimed they seized power in the oil-rich nation, where the president’s family has ruled for 50 years


President Ali Bongo
Succeeded father Omar Bongo in 2009. Narrowly re-elected in 2016 in poll marred by violence and claims of fraud

Bongo, 59, suffered stroke in October and has been in Morocco since November for treatment 

FACTBOX*
Area: 267,667 sq km
Population: 2 million
Life expectancy: 66 years
GNP per capita: $13.38bn
Gabon is fifth largest oil producer in Africa but one third of population lives in poverty


Jan 4: U.S. President Donald Trump deploys 80 soldiers to Gabon to protect U.S. citizens amid fears of violent protest following delay in announcing presidential election results in Dem. Rep. of Congo

All five officers who took over state radio arrested


CAMEROON
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Libreville
GABON
EQUATOR
CONGO
Brazzaville
Kinshasa
D.R. CONGO
ANGOLA
Cabinda (ANGOLA) 
ATLANTIC OCEAN

100km 60 miles


*World Bank (2017)


Sources: World Bank, BBC, AP  
Picture: Getty Images 
© GRAPHIC NEWS