A judge prepared to hear the matter brought by the opposition has been suspended, leaving the court without a quorum to proceed.

The oil-rich state of Gabon has been under the rule of the Bongo dynasty since 1967 when President Ali Bongo’s father Omar come to power.

His son Ali, who  took over after his death in 2009, suffered a stroke ten months ago and has all but disappeared from the public eye.

In addition to hamstringing the Appeal Court’s efforts to rule on his physical ability to run the country, the power elite has suspended a journalist who reported that the President was unable to stand to salute troops at last week’s independence day parade. 

The post Gabon’s ruling dynasty blocks court bid to rule on President Bongo’s fitness to rule appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Two of the five coup leaders have been killed as the army restores control, closing down the internet and broadcasting services in the oil-rich, small West African state.

The South African statement recalls the African Union’s rejection of any unconstitutional change of government and calls on the Gabonese army to restore the democratically elected government in Gabon.

That’s headed by President Ali Bongo who is recovering in Morocco from a  stroke suffered in Saudi Arabia two months ago.

Bongo took the reins when his father died in 2002 having seized power in 1967.

Ali Bongo won an election in 2016 by fewer than 6 000 votes and  at least  seven people died in demonstrations calling for an end to the 50-year Bongo dynasty in Gabon.

The post South Africa condemns attempted coup in Gabon appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

The coup leader says a New Year’s eve address by Bongo reinforced doubts about the president’s ability to continue to carry out of the responsibilities of his office.

Speaking for the putschists is Lieutenant Kelly Ondo Obiang. 

He leads the self-declared Patriotic Movement of the Defence and Security Forces of Gabon.

He’s calling on Gabonese to join his national restoration movement. 

President Ali Bongo has been out of the country since suffering a stroke while attending an economic summit in Saudi Arabia two months ago.

There have been several calls of late for an end to the Bongo dynasty that started with Omar Bongo seizing power in 1967.

Ali Bongo took power after his father’s death in 2002.

The post Soldiers take over radio station in Gabon in attempted coup appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Five rebel soldiers who took over the radio station this morning have been arrested.

The generals, civil society members and opposition figures they listed as their supporters are being investigated.

Gabon’s government spokesman Guy-Bertrand Mapangou says everything is under control in Libreville.

The coup bid, condemned by the French Government and the African Union,  has been crushed.

It took place while President Ali Bongo is recovering in Morocco from a stroke suffered while visiting Saudi Arabia two months ago.

He took over from his father Omar Bongo who died in 2002.

There have been calls for an end to the 50-year-long Bongo dynasty in the oil-rich country of two million where a third of the population live in poverty. 

The post Gabon government says it has crushed a coup attempt appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

In the absence of the 59-year-old, his brother Frederick is running things in Libreville.

ends intro

Ali Bongo was rushed to hospital in Riyadh on October 24th where he was attending an economic gathering.

It took days for his people to admit he was seriously ill and had undergone surgery.

The death of his father Omar Bongo, who was president for 42 years, was shrouded in secrecy nine years ago.

Ali Bongo  continued the dynasty after his father’s death.

Gabonese officials say the President is now off a respirator and well enough to take the journey to Rabat where he will recuperate.

The post Gabon’s President Ali Bongo to recover in Morocco from emergency surgery in Saudi Arabia appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

It shows more than 25 000 of the estimated  100 000 elephants in Central Africa  have been killed for their tusks between 2004 and 2014

A significant portion of he poachers in Gabon’s Minkébé National Park have crossed the northern border from Cameroon.

John Poulsen, assistant professor of tropical ecology at Duke University  says with nearly half of Central Africa’s estimated 100 000 forest elephants thought to live in Gabon, the loss of 25 000 elephants from this key sanctuary is a considerable setback for the preservation of the species.

Researchers used two elephant surveys conducted between 2004 and 2014, which relied on the tracking of dung left behind by the large mammals, to estimate the species’ population decline within the park’s boundaries.

The post Poachers attacking Gabon’s vital elephant herd appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

His chief opponent and former ally Jean Ping, the one-time African Union commission head, persists in saying the result was rigged.

ends intro

The constitutional court says it retallied all the votes from the poll. However it couldn’t do a full recount because all the ballots  were burned immediately after they were counted at the polling stations.

It’s changed some of the results, but declared Bongo still has the lead.

The streets of Libreville have been quiet since the court decision.

At least seven people died and more than 1,000 were arrested in violent protests following the initial announcement of the election result earlier this month.

The post Gabon’s constitutional court confirms Ali Bongo’s presidential election win appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

The arrival of an African Union mission in the capital Libreville has been postponed until further notice.

Former Gabonese foreign minister and African Union Commission head Jean Ping is hoping the constitutional court will  overturn an election result whose validity has been questioned at home and abroad.

Ping lost to the incumbent Ali Bongo by fewer than 6 000 votes.

Gabon is calmer now after protests at the results caused at least six deaths and more than a thousand arrests

Ping’s seeking  a recount in the province of Haut-Ogooue, a stronghold of the Bongo family, who have ruled the central African oil-producing nation of 1.8 million for nearly half a century.

The post Jean Ping goes to court to dispute Gabon’s election result appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

He accused them of overlooking irregularities in his rival Jean Ping’s camp.

The EU election observation team reports a clear anomaly in voting in Presdent Ali Bongo’s Haut-Ogooue province.

Results show an impossibly high turnout, overwhelming in favor of Bongo who won the election ten days ago by less than 6 000 votes.

Bongo says the EU team should have noted some anomalies in Jean Ping’s strongholds.

Bongo’s  ducked calls by Ping, the EU, France and United States for a recount, saying that only the Constitutional Court can order a repeat count.

Several people have been killed in violence triggered by the vote in the oil-rich African nation and more than 1 000 have been arrested.

The post Ali Bongo hits back at criticism of his election win in Gabon appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

France has recommended a recount and the African Union said it will send mediators after at least half a dozen deaths in post election violence.

ends intro

Gabon’s opposition leader Jean Ping – who has said the election was stolen – is calling  on the international community to help the people of Gabon.

EU election monitors have focused on Haut-Ogooue, a Bongo stronghold, where official figures showed he won 95,46 percent of the vote on a 99,9 percent turnout.

The EU noted that such a number means only 47 people in the area would not have voted. Other provinces showed on average a 48 percent voter turnout.

Bongo’s victory margin is fewer than 6 000 votes.

The post EU mission questions validity of Gabon’s presidential vote appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.