Gabon experience an attempted military coup overnight , which led to loss leader in the central African nation shutting off the entire country ’s net . Government officials report that the takeover was put down and that everything is now “ back to normal ” despite there being continued reports of spotted internet access .
The essay coup d’etat begin around 4:30am local time when rebels , unhappy with President Ali Bongo and his family ’s dominion of Gabon for the past 50 age , took command of the country ’s state wireless broadcaster . The program , while primarily deliver via radio , was alsopublished on societal medium .
“ If you are eating , discontinue ; if you are have a drink , stop over ; if you are sleep , wake up . Wake up your neighbors , ” the radio message said in theearly morning hours .
The rebels call themselves the Patriotic Movement of the Defense and Security Forces of Gabon and proclaimed that the “ army has decided to put itself on the side of the people in edict to save Gabon from chaos . ” It ’s not like a shot clear how much keep going the rebel group actually has within the military , though there were reportedly military guards blocking the roadstead to the wireless station during the broadcast . Five of the soldier who took over the receiving set station have been check , according toAl Jazeera .
President Ali Bongo , who was elected to succeed his father in 2016 , has been out of the country since October after reportedly suffering a stroke in Saudi Arabia and seeking medical attention in the Middle East . Bongo send off a New Year ’s Eve content from Morocco where it ’s believed he ’s still recuperating . People in the area noted Bongo ’s slur address and inability to use his right arm , leading to birdsong that he be relieved of his position .
NetBlocks , a non - governmental digital right organisation that tracks internet outages , first describe a major net disruption in the countryearly this dayspring . The current availability of internet access code in the country is unnamed , nor is it currently clear who is responsible for the internet closing .
Confirmed : Internet connectivity keep out down across#Gabonfrom 6:00AM UTC amid apparent military coup attempt ; ongoing incident#Libreville#KeepItOnhttps://t.co / DHXAL6NOVQpic.twitter.com / HebW4G5WOJ
— NetBlocks ( @netblocks)January 7 , 2019
The U.S. government has deploy rough 80 American troops to Gabon over the weekend after a messy election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo raised concerns about potential violence inneighboring countries .
President Trump ’s January 4 letter to the Speaker of the Housereads :
United States Armed Forces personnel office have deployed to Libreville , Gabon , to be in place to patronage the security measures of United States citizens , personnel , and diplomatic facilities in Kinshasa , Democratic Republic of the Congo . This deployment of approximately 80 personnel is in reply to the possible action that violent manifestation may come in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in response to the December 30 , 2018 , elections there . The first of these personnel office get in in Gabon on January 2 , 2019 , with appropriate combat equipment and support by military aircraft . Additional forces may deploy to Gabon , the Democratic Republic of the Congo , or the Republic of the Congo , if necessary for these intent . These deploy personnel will remain in the region until the security department berth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo becomes such that their presence is no longer needed .
The oil - robust nation of Gabon has been plagued by charge of depravity and electoral sham , most recently when President Ali Bongo was elect in 2016 to replace his father Omar who pass away in office staff in 2009 .
rural area around the earth have shut down their net for various reason over the years . Algeria , for representative , in brief shut off its country ’s internetback in Junein an travail to stop student from cheating on exams . Turkey also block access to most social media site , including YouTube , Facebook , and Twitter , during an attempted coup in that res publica during the summertime of 2016 .
[ BBCandNetBlocks ]
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