The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has suspended Gabon due to the recent military coup in the Central African nation. The soldiers took control of the government on Wednesday, and are planning to inaugurate Gen. Brice Nguema as the “transitional president.”
However, the Alternance 2023 coalition, representing Gabon’s main opposition, is demanding that the coup leaders acknowledge their claim as the winners of Saturday’s contested presidential election. This crisis emerged after President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who was declared the victor by the electoral body, was overthrown by the military shortly thereafter, marking an end to the Bongo family’s nearly 56-year rule.
While President Ondimba’s ousting garnered international condemnation, many Gabonese citizens celebrated in the streets, seeing it as a break from decades of Bongo family dominance.
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In response to this situation, the African Union has suspended Gabon from participating in all its activities. The decision was made during a Peace and Security Council meeting chaired by Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, and Nyamitwe, the current chair of the council from Burundi.
Gen. Nguema’s swearing-in ceremony will be held at the constitutional court, according to the junta’s spokesperson, Col. Ulrich Manfoumbi.
