France condemns the coup attempt, which took place in Gabon earlier on Monday, a representative of the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
PARIS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 07th January, 2019) France condemns the coup attempt, which took place in Gabon earlier on Monday, a representative of the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement."We condemn any attempts to change the regime unconstitutionally. The stability of Gabon can only be ensured in strict accordance with the provisions of its constitution ... We urge French citizens, 8,900 of whom are registered at the Consulate [of France in Gabon], to avoid traveling to Libreville [the capital of the country]," the statement reads.
He also noted that the events in Libreville were closely followed by France.
Earlier in the day, a group of military servicemen seized the state broadcasting station of Gabon to announce the creation of the so-called national restoration council. In their statement, the officers said that they had been disappointed by the December 31 address of President Ali Bongo Ondimba and branded it "a deplorable performance of the fierce attempt to retain power."
The military servicemen who were involved in the attempted coup have already been arrested by the country's security services. According to the government, a total of four rebels were arrested, while one individual managed to escape.
In his New Year video address from Rabat, Ali Bongo, 59, made his first public appearance since he suffered a stroke on October 24 and underwent a long treatment in Saudi Arabia and Morocco. The president said that he felt better and was preparing to meet the nation again. Though he appeared to have delivered his speech without much effort, media pointed to the fact that the president's lower body was not shown, thereby fueling further speculation about the head of state's months-long absence from the country and his ability to perform his duties.
