AU Suspends Gabon Over Military Coup

The African Union (AU) has suspended Gabon from the continent following a military coup that led to the ouster of President Ali Bongo on Wednesday.

The AU’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) gave the suspension during a meeting on Thursday in Gabon.

PSC also called for the country’s “immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order.”

It said:
“Immediately suspend Gabon’s involvement in the AU, its agencies and all activities of the agency until constitutional order is restored in the country.”

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The AU Commission was also asked to “send an urgent high-level delegation to Gabon to assess the situation and report back to the PSC.”

The PSC expressed “deep concern” about the security and humanitarian situation in Gabon, where clashes between the coup plotters and their supporters have reportedly resulted in several casualties.

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In its statement, the PSC called on all parties to “exercise maximum restraint and refrain from acts of violence that may further destabilize the country and endanger civilian lives.”

To the international community, the PSC requested particularly the United Nations, UN the European Union, EU, and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), to “support the AU’s efforts to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the Gabon crisis.”

Recall that the coup in Gabon followed last weekend’s controversial elections, in which Bongo was declared the winner with 51.7% of the vote, while his main challenger, former Prime Minister Jiang Ping, won with 48.2%.

Opposition parties demanded a recount, alleging irregularities and irregularities in the counting of the votes.

On Wednesday, a group of military officers led by General Bryce Origi Nguema announced on state television that they had established the Committee of Transition and Restoration Commission Intstutitions (CTRI) to seize power and “save Gabon from chaos.”

They said they put Bongo under house arrest and accused him of “grabbing power” and “plunging the country into a deep social crisis.”