Coup: Gabon Military Leader Frees President Bongo Over Health Concerns

• The ousted President Ali Bongo of Gabon has been granted his freedom about 10 days after being placed under house arrest by the military
• His release was announced in a televised broadcast by the spokesperson of the military, Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi
• According to the military, Bongo was released because of the state of his health, adding that he can travel out of the country if he wishes

Libreville, Gabon - Ali Bongo, the ousted President of Gabon, has been granted the freedom to leave the country for medical treatment by the military.

Aljazeera reported that the military who removed him from power through a coup last month said the former president had been freed from house arrest.

Why the military released President Bongo

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Since August 30, Bongo has been under house arrest when he was toppled by a coup shortly after being declared the winner of the much-criticised elections.

Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi, the spokesperson of the military in Gabon, in a statement on Wednesday, September 6, announced the freedom of the former president in a broadcast.

Manfoumbi said:

“Given his state of health, the former President of the Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba is free to move about. He may, if he wishes, travel abroad for medical checkups.”

How ousted President Bongo was replaced by his cousin

General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the Gabon head of state, who was sworn in on Monday, September 4.

The new military leader, Olugui, is a cousin to the ousted president. He was a bodyguard to the late father of Bongo and was the former republican guard, an elite military unit in the country.

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With the announcement, President Bongo can now stay in the country or travel out if he wishes to.

Niger coup: Claim that Mali military leader threatened to attack Abuja is false

Legit.ng earlier reported a claim that Mali's military leader threatened to invade the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, should the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) deploy its forces to invade Niamey, Niger's capital.

A Facebook handle called Labour Party Plateau State Chapter made the claim.

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The claim, however, turned out to be false.

Source: Legit.ng