The ousted President of the Republic of Gabon, Ali Bongo, has called on friends and allies all over the world to “make some noise” over the military coup.
Reports from a group of Gabonese military officers on Wednesday said they have overthrown Mr Bongo as the democratically elected president of the country.
The coupists who appeared in Gabon TV also nullified Mr Bongo’s victory in last Saturday’s presidential election.
But Mr Bongo, who appeared in the 50-second video, said he was speaking from detention in his residence.
Speaking in the video, the embattled president said, “I am Ali Bongo Ondimba, president of Gabon. I want to send a message to all the friends that we have all over the world to tell them to make noise for the people here who have arrested me and my family.
“My son is somewhere, my wife is in another place and I am at the residence. Right now, I am at the residence and nothing is happening. I don’t know what is going on, so I am calling you to make noise, to make noise really. I am thanking you.”
