1964 Gabon coup d'état Léon M'ba

gabonese , french military officers

from night of 17 february morning of 18 february 1964, 150 gabonese military personnel, headed lieutenant jacques mombo , valére essone, arrested president of national assembly louis bigmann, french commanders claude haulin , major royer, on radio libreville, military announced gabonese people coup d état had taken place, , required technical assistance , told french not interfere in matter. m ba instructed broadcast speech acknowledging defeat. d-day here, injustices beyond measure, these people patient, patience has limits , said. came boil.

during these events, no gunshots fired. people did not react strongly, according military, sign of approval. provisional government formed, , presidency offered aubame. government composed of civilian politicians both udsg , bdg, such paul gondjout. plotters content ensure security civilians. small gabonese army did not intervene in coup; composed of french officers, remained in barracks.

second lieutenant ndo edou gave instructions transfer m ba ndjolé, aubame s electoral stronghold. however, due heavy rain, deposed president , captors took shelter in unknown village. next morning decided take him on easier road lambaréné. several hours later, returned libreville. new head of government contacted french ambassador paul cousseran, assure him property of foreign nationals protected , ask him prevent french military intervention.

but in paris, de gaulle decided otherwise. m ba 1 of loyal allies france in africa. while visiting france in 1961, m ba said: gabonese have 2 fatherlands: france , gabon. moreover, under regime, europeans enjoyed particularly friendly treatment. french authorities therefore decided, in accordance signed franco-gabon agreements, restore legitimate government. intervention not commence without formal request head of state of gabon. since m ba otherwise occupied, french contacted vice president of gabon, paul marie yembit, had not been arrested. however, remained unaccounted for; therefore, decided compose predated letter yembit later sign, confirming intervention. less 24 hours later, french troops stationed in dakar , brazzaville landed in libreville , restored m ba power. on course of operation, 1 french soldier killed, while 15 25 died on gabonese side.