AU CONDEMNS GABON COUP, AS JUNTA PLACES BONGO IN RETIREMENT

The Head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, has today, strongly condemned what he described as an attempted coup in Gabon.

This video grab taken from Gabon 24 shows Gabonese soldiers appearing on television on August 30, 2023 announcing they were “putting an end to the current regime” and the cancellation of an election that, according to official results, President Ali Bongo Ondimba won. – During the announcement, AFP journalists heard gunfire ring out in the Gabonese capital, Libreville. While announcing the cancellation of the results one of the soldiers announced the dissolution of “all the institutions of the republic”. “We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime”, one of the soldiers said on TV channel Gabon 24, adding that he was speaking on behalf of the “Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions”. “To this end, the general elections of 26 August 2023 and the truncated results are cancelled,” he added. “All the institutions of the republic are dissolved: the government, the Senate, the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court,” he added, announcing the closure of the country’s borders “until further notice”. Among the soldiers were members of the Republican Guard as well as soldiers of the regular army and police officers. (Photo by – / Gabon 24 / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / GABON 24” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS – RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / GABON 24” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS /

Rebel officers in the oil-rich central African state earlier today announced that they had seized power, following disputed elections, which saw President Ali Bongo emerge as the victor.

AU’s comment comes after President Ali Bongo had been placed in retirement.

The head of his presidential guard told reporters about his retirement today after rebel officers said they had toppled him.

Meanwhile, a statement published on the AU website in French, stated that Faki is following with great concern the situation in the Gabonese Republic and strongly condemns the attempted coup d’etat in the country as a way of resolving its current post-electoral crisis.

The AU commission chief also described today’s events as a flagrant violation of the legal and political instruments of the Addis Ababa-headquartered African Union.

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AU CONDEMNS GABON COUP, AS JUNTA PLACES BONGO IN RETIREMENT

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