After announcing on the state channel that they had seized power in Gabon, the putschist soldiers made another statement to announce that the 64-year-old Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who has been in power since 2009, was detained at his own house. The announcement also included that the son of the President of Gabon was arrested for “treason”.
After the army announced they had taken power, many supporters of the coup took to the streets and celebrated with Gabonese flags. The Gabonese military warned the crowd to return to their homes and move away from strategic areas.