Gabon's detained president Bongo appeals to foreign allies for help

Gabon President Ali Bongo makes a statement through a video message, after the Gabon military had seized power, at an unknown location, in this screen grab taken from a social media video released on August 30, 2023. Video Obtained by REUTERS/via REUTERS

LIBREVILLE (Reuters) - Gabonese President Ali Bongo, speaking from apparent house arrest on Wednesday, asked the international community to "make noise" to support him and his family in a video shared widely online after military officers declared they had seized power.

The video was confirmed as authentic by BTP Advisors, a PR firm that has worked closely with Bongo on his election campaign.