US Spent Millions On Defense Training, Climate Initiatives For Latest African Country To Suffer Military Coup

The United States has invested millions of dollars in foreign assistance to an African country whose military staged a successful coup against the sitting president on Wednesday.

The U.S. has sent roughly $100 million in direct foreign assistance to Gabon, a country located in the Sahel region of Africa, since 2001, according to ForeignAssistance.gov. A number of Gabon’s military forces arrested President Ali Bongo Ondimba in a successful coup that sought to overturn the results of a highly contentious election on Wednesday.

Approximately $10 million of the direct foreign aid was purposed for the promotion of stability and peace in the region, according to ForeignSpending.gov. These initiatives primarily focused on military education and training and anti-terrorism programs, and are backed by the Department of Defense and the State Department.