• Its been a while that Africa witnessed a coup. Latest happenings in Gabon could signal yet another period of military take over. A coup early Monday morning is currently taking place in Gabon, as military men has reportedly seized the state radio station and declaring their dissatisfaction with President Ali Bongo, who is recovering from a stroke in Morocco.

    Officers read aloud a message announcing their unhappiness with Bongo, saying his new year’s address “reinforced doubts about the president’s ability to continue to carry out of the responsibilities of his office,” said Lieutenant Kelly Ondo Obiang, the leader of the self-declared Patriotic Movement of the Defence and Security Forces of Gabon.

    Gun shots were heard in the Gabon capital of Libreville.

    It comes as US president Donald Trump said on the weekend that about 80 US military personnel and “appropriate combat equipment” had deployed to Gabon amid fears of unrest in neighbouring Congo.

    The troops were to provide security for US citizens and staffers and diplomatic facilities. More would deploy as needed to Gabon, Congo or neighbouring Republic of Congo, Trump said.