African Union (AU) has suspended Gabon’s membership in the wake of the coup in Gabon, Central Africa.
The military coup that ousted President Ali Bongo of Gabon was sharply criticised by the African Union’s Peace and Security Council on Thursday evening.
It suspended Gabon’s participation in all activities of the AU and its institutions “with immediate effect until constitutional order is restored in the country.”
Following the military coup at the end of July, the AU recently terminated Niger Republic’s membership.
Additionally suspended since their respective coups are Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and Sudan.
EU official Josep Borrell stated in Brussels that EU “rejects any seizure of power by force in Gabon.”
In a statement on Thursday, Borrell wrote:
“The challenges facing Gabon must be resolved in accordance with the principles of the rule of law, constitutional order and democracy,”
“The challenges facing Gabon must be resolved in accordance with the principles of the rule of law, constitutional order and democracy,” Borrell wrote on Thursday in a statement.
“The country’s peace and prosperity, as well as regional stability, depend on it,” the statement said.
Instead of using force, he advocated for “inclusive and substantive dialogue” to respect the rule of law, human rights, and the desire of the Gabonese people.
Gabon’s military seized control early on Wednesday.
Officers declared the dissolution of state entities on state television.
They also stated that the recent election results had been nullified due to fraud, and that the country’s borders had been blocked.
The electoral officials had pronounced Bongo, who has been in government since 2009, the victor of the Aug. 26 poll just a few days prior.
On Wednesday evening, military commanders appointed the head of the Presidential Guard, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, as the country’s interim leader.
cc: Vanguard Ng
