Why did a group of soldiers attempt a coup in Gabon in January 2019?

In January 2019, a small group of soldiers staged a coup attempt in Gabon while President Ali Bongo was abroad recuperating from a stroke.12

The attempt was driven by the controversy surrounding the president's health and the secrecy maintained by the government regarding his condition. Following his hospitalization in October 2018, concerns grew over who was leading the country, as the constitution mandated that an incapacitated president be replaced by the president of the Senate to organize new elections. Tensions were further exacerbated when the Constitutional Court controversially amended the constitution to allow the vice president or prime minister to handle presidential duties, a move widely criticized as illegal and unconstitutional.12

The coup attempt was quickly suppressed on the same day, as it appeared the president maintained the support of the majority of the military.12