![In this video grab made on a video footage obtained on YouTube on January 7, 2019, Gabon soldiers leave a studio of state radio after an address calling on the people to "rise up" and announcing a "national restoration council" would be formed, as an ailing President Ali Bongo is out of the country. The message was read on state radio by a person who identified himself as the deputy commander of the Republican Guard and head of a group called the Patriotic Youth Movement of the Gabonese Defence and Security Forces. [Photo: AFP/YOUTUBE]](http://img1.zhytuku.meldingcloud.com/images/zhycms_chinaplus/20190107/8cee7197-ce89-4ebe-947b-8d5f6cedab03.jpg?x-oss-process=image/resize,w_650)
Military officers in Gabon on early Monday morning seized the African country’s state radio station and announced establishing a national council, local media reported.
A statement was read on radio to criticize President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who is now hospitalized in Morocco’s capital Rabat in recovery from a stroke.
It is reported that the statement said the military was disappointed with the New Year address made by Bongo on Dec. 31, which it said showed the ailing president’s strong attempt to remain in power.
Bongo has been president of the coastal country in Central Africa since 2009. He was re-elected in 2016.
It is reported the officers arrived at the state radio office around 4 a.m. local time (0300 GMT).
