Soldiers involved in Gabon's 2019 failed coup jailed 15 years

The Gabonese court has handed down a 15-year jail term for three soldiers involved in a failed coup d'état two years ago.

The state prosecutor, located in the capital Libreville, confirmed the conviction to AFP news agency on Thursday, July 1.

The 2019 attempted overthrow of the Ali Bongo Ondimba -led government came at a time the president was

Read full articleseeking medical treatment abroad.

Five soldiers stormed the national radio before reading a statement to the effect that they had taken over the reins of government.

They said they were calling for national restoration in the face of an ailing and absent president.

Two of them were neutralized by security forces whiles the remaining three were arrested. At the time government shut down the internet amid the uncertainty.

In his application, the public prosecutor requested convicts Lieutenant Kelly Ondo, commando leader and member of the Republican Guard and two accomplices to be given life imprisonment and a fine of 100 million CFA francs (US$180, 896).

But rather the court sentenced Ondo and the other officers to 15 years in jail, with fine of 31 million CFA francs (US$54,268) and also dismissed them from the army.

Weeks after the failed putsch, President Ali Bongo returned from Rabat where he was recuperating to inaugurate a new government.

With that done, he headed back to Rabat to continue his recovery from a stroke he suffered in 2018.