01-07-2019, 11:45 PM
*** 8-Jan-19 World View -- Gabon has failed coup attempt as US troops arrive for DR Congo mission
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Abortive coup attempt in Gabon fails while president it out of the country
****
![[Image: g190107b.jpg]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g190107b.jpg)
Gabon's president Ali Bongo. He is currently in Morocco recovering from a stroke (Getty)
Days after the US began deploying troops to Gabon for a mission in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a failed coup attempt occurred.
Rebel soldiers in Gabon launched an abortive coup attempt on Monday.
At around 4:30 am, five soldiers took over the state run radio and
television station and broadcast a statement calling on the people of
Gabon to "rise up," while the president, Ali Bongo, is in Morocco
recovering from a stroke.
A man identifying himself as Lt Kelly Ondo Obiang, flanked by two
armed men. They presented themselves as the Patriotic Youth Movement
of the Defense and Security Forces. Obiang read out a statement:
<QUOTE>"The eagerly awaited day has arrived when the army has
decided to put itself on the side of the people in order to save
[1]Gabon from chaos. If you are eating, stop; if you
are having a drink, stop; if you are sleeping, wake up. Wake up
your neighbors ... rise up as one and take control of the
street."<END QUOTE>
He called on Gabonese to occupy the country’s airports, public
buildings and media organizations. A few hundred people went into the
streets of Libreville to support the so-called coup, but they were
quickly dispersed.
Security forces stormed the state broadcasting headquarters, capturing
the rebel chief, killing two of his team and freeing journalists and
technicians who had been held hostage and forced to help the mutineers
make their broadcast. All five members of the Patriotic Youth
Movement of the Defense and Security Forces were arrested after a
chase.
According to a Gabonese journalist, "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."
The abortive coup attempt was apparently triggered by Ali Bongo's poor
New Year's eve speech. He was hospitalized in October in Saudi Arabia
after suffering a stroke, and he went to Morocco, where the president
is a long-time friend, in order to continue treatment. Ali Bongo
hasn't been seen in Gabon since then, and on a televised New Year's
Eve speech he slurred some words and did not move his right arm. It's
unclear if he is able to walk.
Gabon's former colonial power, France, has a permanent force of 300
soldiers in Gabon. France 24 and Al Jazeera and AP and Radio France International (Translation)
****
**** Brief generational history of Gabon
****
Since 1910, Gabon was part of France's colony French Equatorial
Africa (the equator runs through Gabon), consisting of
the colonies Gabon, Middle Congo (today's Congo-Brazzaville)
Ubangi–Shari–Chad (today's Chad and Central African Republic).
Gabon's last generational crisis war was World War II. All the
colonies except Gabon sided with Charles de Gaulle's Free French
government, while Gabon sided with the pro-Nazi French Vichy
government. In October 1940, General de Gaulle issues orders for
liquidation of the Vichy enclave in Gabon. The Free French forces
marched into Gabon's capital city Libreville. The Battle of
Libreville occurred between November 9-12, resulting in the victory of
the Free French.
In 1960, Gabon became independent of France. In 1967, Albert-Bernard
Bongo became president. In 1973, he converted to Islam and changed
his name to Omar.
After 40 years, Omar Bongo died in June 2009, and his son Ali Bongo
succeeded him after an election that many believed was rigged.
Ali Bongo narrowly won reelection in 2016, after violence
and rigging of the election.
Rigging an election to keep a dictator or dynasty in power for decades
is nothing new in Africa, as we've described in country after country,
where jailings, beatings, rapes, and killings are standard fare by
leaders who wish to make sure that they win elections, while at the
same time they call their elections "democratic, free and fair" in
order to please international media and governments, and keep aid and
investment money pouring in to benefit the country's elite.
With Ali Bongo in Morocco recovering from a stroke, there is
widespread confusion about who is really making decisions, uncertainty
about when the newly elected National Assembly and a new cabinet will
begin work, and political maneuvers that appear designed to evade the
constitutional requirement that an incapacitated President be replaced
through a special election. Bongo's cronies and family members appear
to be running the country for now, but as the failed coup attempt
illustrates, it will be difficult to maintain stability with
provisional and ad hoc measures indefinitely.
Gabon has high unemployment and a country dependent on oil exports.
People accuse the government of corruption, with a wealthy political
elite that benefit from the country's riches, while millions of people
live in dire poverty. BBC and Council on Foreign Relations and Gabon timeline
****
**** US troops in Gabon remain focused on DR Congo mission despite coup attempt
****
The abortive coup attempt in Gabon comes just three days after the
White House ordered 80 combat-equipped military personnel to Gabon,
"to be in position to support the security of United States citizens,
personnel, and diplomatic facilities in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic
of the Congo" in case of violence. ( "6-Jan-19 World View -- Trump announces that US troops will be sent to DR Congo"
)
For the time being, the abortive coup will have no effect on the
mission of the US forces. “At this time there is no change in the
status of our forces in Gabon,” AFRICOM spokesman John Manley said as
events were unfolding Monday. The troops are not currently tasked with
securing diplomatic assets within Gabon, he said. Stars and Stripes
Related Articles:
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Libreville, Gabon, Kinshasa,
Ali Bongo, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Kelly Ondo Obiang,
Patriotic Youth Movement of the Defense and Security Forces,
France, French Equatorial Africa, Charles de Gaulle,
Free French, French Vichy, Battle of Libreville,
Albert-Bernard Bongo, Omar Bongo,
Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Donald Trump,
AFRICOM, John Manley
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Abortive coup attempt in Gabon fails while president it out of the country
- Brief generational history of Gabon
- US troops in Gabon remain focused on DR Congo mission despite coup attempt
****
**** Abortive coup attempt in Gabon fails while president it out of the country
****
Gabon's president Ali Bongo. He is currently in Morocco recovering from a stroke (Getty)
Days after the US began deploying troops to Gabon for a mission in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a failed coup attempt occurred.
Rebel soldiers in Gabon launched an abortive coup attempt on Monday.
At around 4:30 am, five soldiers took over the state run radio and
television station and broadcast a statement calling on the people of
Gabon to "rise up," while the president, Ali Bongo, is in Morocco
recovering from a stroke.
A man identifying himself as Lt Kelly Ondo Obiang, flanked by two
armed men. They presented themselves as the Patriotic Youth Movement
of the Defense and Security Forces. Obiang read out a statement:
<QUOTE>"The eagerly awaited day has arrived when the army has
decided to put itself on the side of the people in order to save
[1]Gabon from chaos. If you are eating, stop; if you
are having a drink, stop; if you are sleeping, wake up. Wake up
your neighbors ... rise up as one and take control of the
street."<END QUOTE>
He called on Gabonese to occupy the country’s airports, public
buildings and media organizations. A few hundred people went into the
streets of Libreville to support the so-called coup, but they were
quickly dispersed.
Security forces stormed the state broadcasting headquarters, capturing
the rebel chief, killing two of his team and freeing journalists and
technicians who had been held hostage and forced to help the mutineers
make their broadcast. All five members of the Patriotic Youth
Movement of the Defense and Security Forces were arrested after a
chase.
According to a Gabonese journalist, "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."
The abortive coup attempt was apparently triggered by Ali Bongo's poor
New Year's eve speech. He was hospitalized in October in Saudi Arabia
after suffering a stroke, and he went to Morocco, where the president
is a long-time friend, in order to continue treatment. Ali Bongo
hasn't been seen in Gabon since then, and on a televised New Year's
Eve speech he slurred some words and did not move his right arm. It's
unclear if he is able to walk.
Gabon's former colonial power, France, has a permanent force of 300
soldiers in Gabon. France 24 and Al Jazeera and AP and Radio France International (Translation)
****
**** Brief generational history of Gabon
****
Since 1910, Gabon was part of France's colony French Equatorial
Africa (the equator runs through Gabon), consisting of
the colonies Gabon, Middle Congo (today's Congo-Brazzaville)
Ubangi–Shari–Chad (today's Chad and Central African Republic).
Gabon's last generational crisis war was World War II. All the
colonies except Gabon sided with Charles de Gaulle's Free French
government, while Gabon sided with the pro-Nazi French Vichy
government. In October 1940, General de Gaulle issues orders for
liquidation of the Vichy enclave in Gabon. The Free French forces
marched into Gabon's capital city Libreville. The Battle of
Libreville occurred between November 9-12, resulting in the victory of
the Free French.
In 1960, Gabon became independent of France. In 1967, Albert-Bernard
Bongo became president. In 1973, he converted to Islam and changed
his name to Omar.
After 40 years, Omar Bongo died in June 2009, and his son Ali Bongo
succeeded him after an election that many believed was rigged.
Ali Bongo narrowly won reelection in 2016, after violence
and rigging of the election.
Rigging an election to keep a dictator or dynasty in power for decades
is nothing new in Africa, as we've described in country after country,
where jailings, beatings, rapes, and killings are standard fare by
leaders who wish to make sure that they win elections, while at the
same time they call their elections "democratic, free and fair" in
order to please international media and governments, and keep aid and
investment money pouring in to benefit the country's elite.
With Ali Bongo in Morocco recovering from a stroke, there is
widespread confusion about who is really making decisions, uncertainty
about when the newly elected National Assembly and a new cabinet will
begin work, and political maneuvers that appear designed to evade the
constitutional requirement that an incapacitated President be replaced
through a special election. Bongo's cronies and family members appear
to be running the country for now, but as the failed coup attempt
illustrates, it will be difficult to maintain stability with
provisional and ad hoc measures indefinitely.
Gabon has high unemployment and a country dependent on oil exports.
People accuse the government of corruption, with a wealthy political
elite that benefit from the country's riches, while millions of people
live in dire poverty. BBC and Council on Foreign Relations and Gabon timeline
****
**** US troops in Gabon remain focused on DR Congo mission despite coup attempt
****
The abortive coup attempt in Gabon comes just three days after the
White House ordered 80 combat-equipped military personnel to Gabon,
"to be in position to support the security of United States citizens,
personnel, and diplomatic facilities in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic
of the Congo" in case of violence. ( "6-Jan-19 World View -- Trump announces that US troops will be sent to DR Congo"
)
For the time being, the abortive coup will have no effect on the
mission of the US forces. “At this time there is no change in the
status of our forces in Gabon,” AFRICOM spokesman John Manley said as
events were unfolding Monday. The troops are not currently tasked with
securing diplomatic assets within Gabon, he said. Stars and Stripes
Related Articles:
- Trump announces that US troops will be sent to DR Congo (06-Jan-2019)
- DR Congo in election chaos, as Ebola continues to spread (29-Dec-2018)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Libreville, Gabon, Kinshasa,
Ali Bongo, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Kelly Ondo Obiang,
Patriotic Youth Movement of the Defense and Security Forces,
France, French Equatorial Africa, Charles de Gaulle,
Free French, French Vichy, Battle of Libreville,
Albert-Bernard Bongo, Omar Bongo,
Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Donald Trump,
AFRICOM, John Manley
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
