Coup: African Union suspends Gabon

In the aftermath of the coup in the Central African nation, the African Union (AU) has suspended Gabon’s membership. The AU’s Peace and Security Council, in a statement released on Thursday evening, expressed strong condemnation for the military’s seizure of power in Gabon, resulting in the removal of President Ali Bongo.

With immediate effect and pending the restoration of constitutional order in Gabon, the AU has suspended Gabon’s participation in all its activities and institutions. This action follows a similar suspension of Niger Republic’s membership a few weeks ago due to a military takeover in that country. Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and Sudan also faced suspensions following coups in their respective nations.

Meanwhile, in Brussels, the European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, declared the EU’s rejection of any forcible seizure of power in Gabon. Borrell emphasized that the challenges confronting Gabon should be resolved through adherence to the principles of the rule of law, constitutional order, and democracy.

He stressed that the peace, prosperity, and regional stability of the country depended on this approach. Borrell called for inclusive and substantive dialogue as the means to uphold the rule of law, protect human rights, and honor the will of the Gabonese people.

The military in Gabon took control early on Wednesday, announcing on state television that they had dissolved state institutions, nullified the results of the recent election due to alleged fraud, and closed the country’s borders.

Shortly before these developments, electoral authorities had declared Ali Bongo, who had been in office since 2009, as the winner of the August 26 election. The military leadership subsequently appointed Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the head of the Presidential Guard, as the interim leader of the country on Wednesday evening.