According to a video of the president circulating online, Gabon’s ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba pleaded to the world on Wednesday for his release after the military placed him “under house arrest” following a coup.
In the 50-second video, the 64-year-old leader is shown sitting peacefully in a chair, making an urgent appeal.
“I am Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon, and I am sending a message to all friends we have all over the world – make noise because the people here have arrested me,” he said in a video broadcast online whose source could not be verified.
“My family, my son is somewhere, and my wife is somewhere else,” Bongo said. Right now, I’m at home, and nothing is occurring. I’m not sure what’s going on. So I’m calling on you to make some noise. “Thank you,” said the captive leader.
On Wednesday, several military personnel took control of Gabon, claiming to be against “irresponsible, unpredictable governance resulting in a continuous deterioration of social cohesion, which risks leading the country into chaos.”
According to a statement given on state television by the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), Bongo is being held “under house arrest, surrounded by his family and doctors.”
“My family, my son is somewhere, and my wife is somewhere else,” Bongo said. Right now, I’m at home, and nothing is occurring. I’m not sure what’s going on. So I’m calling on you to make some noise. “Thank you,” said the captive leader.
On Wednesday, several military personnel took control of Gabon, claiming to be against “irresponsible, unpredictable governance resulting in a continuous deterioration of social cohesion, which risks leading the country into chaos.”
According to a statement given on state television by the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), Bongo is being held “under house arrest, surrounded by his family and doctors.”