Lance Cpl. Jacob Kenneally and Lance Cpl. Jimmy Gonzalez, U.S. Marines with Anti-terrorism Security Team Europe, secure assigned sectors at the U.S. Embassy in Libreville, Gabon, during a drill, April 26, 2023. U.S. Africa Command is monitoring an apparent coup in the country. ( William Reckley/U.S. Marine Corps)
STUTTGART, Germany — U.S. Africa Command said it is monitoring an apparent coup in Gabon, a country that has played a key role in the American military’s network of crisis response outposts on the continent, officials said.
On Wednesday, Gabon’s military leaders announced that they had seized power following the reelection of President Ali Bongo Ondimba and that Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema will serve as the country’s transitional leader.
Events in Gabon could have implications for U.S. military operations in Africa. The country has played host to a cooperative security location, which functions as a bare-bones launching pad for quick-reaction missions.
Establishing such facilities became a priority for AFRICOM following the deadly 2012 attack on a diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. Since then, numerous outposts have been set up across Africa.
Former AFRICOM boss Gen. David Rodriguez said in 2015 that sites such as the one in Gabon “enable us to be within four hours of all the high-risk, high-threat (diplomatic) posts.”
During a visit to Libreville, Gabon, AFRICOM commander Gen. Michael Langley meets with President Ali Bongo on Jan. 17, 2023. AFRICOM is monitoring an apparent coup in Gabon that deposed Bongo. ( U.S. Embassy in Gabon)
The broader region has a recent history of political instability. In 2019, 80 combat-equipped U.S. troops were deployed to the country to monitor potential violence in the nearby Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Soon after their arrival, Gabon’s military launched a coup attempt and seized control of state radio. That revolt was short-lived, with the government regaining control the same day.
Since then, AFRICOM has maintained ties. In January, Gen. Michael Langley was in Libreville, the capital of Gabon, to meet with political and military leaders.
“We’re grateful for our strong and evolving partnership here and the continued cooperation to help strengthen security in the region for years to come,” Langley said at the time.
The Bongo family has ruled for the past 55 years in Gabon, an oil-rich state with high levels of unemployment and poverty. Bongo came to power in 2009 following his father’s death and has served two terms as president.
But his time in office has been rife with discontent. There was public jubilation following the military’s announcement that Bongo had been deposed in the wake of his election victory, The Associated Press reported.
Gabon is the latest African country to see a military takeover, following the overthrow of Niger’s elected government in July.
Niger is home to a sprawling $110 million U.S. Air Force drone site that carries out counterterrorism missions in the region.
