São Tomé and Príncipe
A coup attempt failed on Thursday night in Sao Tome and Principe, a small Gulf of Guinea island nation considered a model of parliamentary democracy in Africa, Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada said.
Four men, including the former president of the outgoing national assembly Delfim Neves and a former military officer who had already attempted a coup in 2009, were arrested and tried to attack the army headquarters, Trovoada said in a video authenticated and sent to AFP in Libreville by Justice Minister Ilsa Maria dos Santos Amado Vaz.
The head of government, who appears seated at a desk with tired features, wearing a T-shirt under a raincoat, was keen to "reassure" the population and "the international community".
"There was an attempted coup d'état which began around 00.40 and (...) ended shortly after 6am," he said, adding: "The armed forces were attacked in a barracks.
A resident contacted by telephone by AFP said on condition of anonymity that she had heard "automatic and heavier weapons fire, as well as detonations, for two hours inside the army headquarters" in the capital Sao Tome.
Go to video
Top 10 richest people in the world as of May 1, 2024
Go to video
Guinness World Records: Nigerian woman attempts record by painting nails for three days
Go to video
Global Citizen NOW urges investment in Sub-Saharan Africa
Go to video
Kenya appoints first woman air force head
Go to video
US says it will return to Chad for talks to keep troops in the country
Go to video
New form of mpox that may spread more easily found in Congo's biggest outbreak