“Within the identify of the Gabonese individuals … we have now determined to defend the peace by placing an finish to the present regime,” one officer mentioned, studying a joint assertion on nationwide tv, surrounded by a few dozen others in army fatigues. “We name on the inhabitants for calm and serenity.”
Gunfire was reported within the capital, Libreville, minutes after the coup was declared, in keeping with media stories.
Gabon’s obvious coup marks the newest in a exceptional string in West and Central Africa, together with the latest army takeover in Niger, which turned a purple line for democratically elected West African leaders. Since 2021, there have additionally been coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Chad and Sudan.
In Gabon, the officers known as themselves the “Committee of the Transition and the Restoration of Establishments” and mentioned that “irresponsible, unpredictable governance” had resulted in a deterioration of social cohesion. The officers mentioned within the video that they revered Gabon’s “commitments to the worldwide group.”
Neither Bongo nor his authorities reacted to the information early Wednesday, and the president’s whereabouts weren’t instantly clear.
Bongo, who was elected in 2009, and his father Omar Bongo, who dominated for 41 years earlier than that, had been key allies to France, Gabon’s former colonial energy, in a area by which anti-French sentiment is rising more and more prevalent. As not too long ago as June, Bongo had met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
Compared to Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, the place coups have been fueled by fears over spiraling violence linked to Islamic extremism, Gabon is peaceable and was seen as comparatively steady. However latest elections, together with the Aug. 26 vote by which Bongo received a 3rd time period, have been marred by violence and allegations of rigging.
In 2019, Gabon’s authorities foiled an tried coup towards its president.
The European Union’s international coverage chief, Josep Borrell, mentioned Wednesday that the bloc’s international ministers would talk about the developments in Gabon, which he famous have been a part of a “very troublesome scenario” within the area, together with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
“The ministers,” he mentioned at a gathering of E.U. protection ministers in Toledo, Spain, “should have a deep thought on what’s going on there and the way we are able to enhance our coverage in respect to those international locations … It is a huge problem for Europe.”
Bisset reported from London.
