GABON: Internet Shut Down Following Attempted Coup

 

The situation in Gabon remained unclear on Tuesday, a day after soldiers attempted a coup d'etat as the government shut down the internet and broadcasting services while claiming the renegade troops had been killed or arrested. 

The attempted takeover occurred as President Ali Bongo was out of the country receiving medical treatment in Morocco.

The move to blackout sources of information during the insurrection was denounced by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

"Shutting down the internet and broadcasting services during times of crisis makes it impossible for journalists to carry out their work efficiently and safely," said the group's Africa programme coordinator Angela Quintal.

"Citizens are robbed of access to the reliable information that they need to make decisions. We call on authorities in Gabon to immediately and fully restore access to the internet and lift all restrictions on broadcasting," she said in a statement.

Sources told Al Jazeera the internet and news sources remained unavailable on Tuesday.