African Union Suspends Gabon Membership After Military Coup

Gabon's military illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/US Army Africa)

JAKARTA - The African Union's Peace and Security Council condemned Gabon's military move to take power after the election, which was again won by incumbent Ali Bongo, decided to suspend Gabon's membership of all African Union (AU) activities.

"Decided to immediately suspend Gabon's participation in all activities of the Air Force, its agencies and institutions until the restoration of the constitutional order in the country," the agency wrote on its Twitter account as quoted September 1.

The announcement came after a board meeting on the situation in Gabon following Wednesday's coup, which came after a disputed election in which Bongo was declared the winner.

The meeting was chaired by the commissioner of the African Union's political affairs, Bankole Adoeye from Nigeria, and the current chairman of the council, Willy Nyamitwe from Burundi.

On Wednesday, the Chairman of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, called on Gabon's army and security forces "to ensure Bongo's physical integrity", which coup leaders said had been placed under house arrest, citing The Guardian.

1/2) Council strongly condemns the military takeover of power in the Republic of #Gabon which ousted President Ali Bongo @PresidentABO on 30 August 2023; Decides to immediately suspend the participation of #Gabon in all activities of the #AU, its organs and institutions.. pic.twitter.com/xQVmTyFrWR

— African Union Political Affairs Peace and Security (@AUC_PAPS) August 31, 2023

1/2) Council strongly concentrates the military takeover of power in the Republic of #Gabon which was investigated by President Ali Bongo @PresidentABO on August 30, 2023; Decides to immediately suspend the participation of #Gabon in all activities of the #AU, its organizations and institutions. pic.twitter.com/xQVmTyFrWR

Faki also condemned the coup and said the incident in Gabon was a "significant violation" of the African Union's legal and political instruments based in Addis Ababa.

"Encouraging all political, civilian and military actors in Gabon to choose a peaceful political path that leads to a rapid restoration of the country's democratic constitutional order," he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Gabon's main opposition urged military leaders to conclude the election vote count, admitting their candidate won the disputed election.

Coalition Alternance 2023 also said it invited security forces to take part in discussions "to address the situation within a patriotic and responsible framework".

coalition spokesman Mike Jocktane said members of the security forces had been deployed at each polling station and overseeing the transport of ballot boxes.

Thus, they are the "first witnesses" of the "real victory" of the main opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa, he said.

The announcement of the coup on Wednesday morning came just moments after the national election supervisor stated that Bongo won a third term by earning 64.27 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, Ondo Ossa only won 30.77 percent of the vote.

It is known that earlier this month the African Union took similar action by freezing Niger, following a coup in the western African nation in July that toppled elected president Mohamed Bazoum.