2019 Gabonese coup d'état attempt facts for kids

On January 7, 2019, the military in Gabon announced that they were taking control of the country. This is called a coup attempt. Military officers said they had removed President Ali Bongo from power. Ali Bongo had become president in 2016 after an election that many people disagreed with, which led to protests.

At the time of the coup attempt, President Ali Bongo was in Morocco for medical treatment. While he was away, armed groups in Gabon's capital city, Libreville, took action. They held some people hostage. These groups said they had formed a "National Restoration Council." Their goal was to "restore democracy in Gabon."

During this event, the internet was sometimes not working. It is not clear if the armed groups or regular citizens caused the internet shutdown. Later, Gabon's government announced that it had regained control of the country.

What is a Coup Attempt?

A coup attempt happens when a group of people, often from the military, try to illegally take power from the government. They try to remove the current leaders and take control themselves. This is different from a regular election, where people vote for their leaders.

Who is Ali Bongo?

Ali Bongo Ondimba was the President of Gabon. He became president in 2009 after his father, Omar Bongo, passed away. He was re-elected in 2016, but many people questioned if that election was fair.

Events in Libreville

Libreville is the capital city of Gabon. It is where the main events of the coup attempt happened. The armed groups took over a state radio station to make their announcement. They wanted to tell everyone that they were trying to take control.

After the Attempt

After the military officers announced their actions, Gabon's government quickly responded. They said that the situation was under control. The people involved in the coup attempt were arrested. The government stated that the attempt to take power had failed.