Army foils coup attempt, arrests mutineers in Sao Tome

Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada, in a video message, revealed that the Army on Friday foiled a coup attempt in Sao Tome and Principe.

Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada in the video message confirmed by the justice minister, said that four men, including the former president of the outgoing National Assembly, Delfim Neves, launched an attack at the army headquarters overnight, adding that Neves was one of the mutineers arrested by the military.

A resident was cited to have said that she had heard “automatic and heavy weapons fire, as well as explosions, for two hours inside the army headquarters.” i

The Prime Minister of Sao Tome, Trovoada, was seen sitting In the video message, at a desk, declaring that he wants to “reassure” the population and “the international community”.

According to Trovoada,  “There was an attempted coup d’etat which began around 00:40 am and… ended shortly after 6 am. “Armed forces were attacked in a barracks.

“The situation in the barracks is under control, but we must be sure that the country is completely under control.”

He noted a soldier was “taken hostage” and wounded but “would be able to resume his activities in a few days”.

Military personnel were deployed overnight to secure the homes of members of the government and the president.

She added that the city was now calm: “People are going about their normal business but schools have asked parents not to send their children.”

Trovoada said: “The operation was ordered by certain personalities from the country in complicity with certain others from within the army.

“The four attackers have been arrested and have denounced certain others, including Delfim Neves and Arlecio Costa.”