September 01, (THEWILL) – The African Union (AU) has suspended the Republic of Gabon as member of the Union, following the military coup that sacked President Ali Bongo Ondimba.
On Wednesday, senior officers in Gabon said they had seized power shortly after Bongo was declared the winner of Saturday’s disputed presidential election.
The officers rejected the vote which would have given Bongo a third term in office, dissolved state institutions and closed the country’s borders.
General Brice Oligui Nguema, the coup leader and former head of the presidential guard, is due to be sworn in as new Transitional President on Monday.
In its first reaction to the coup, AU’s Peace and Security Council in a statement on Thursday, strongly condemned” the mitary coup.
It “suspended Gabon’s participation in all activities of the AU and its institutions with immediate effect until constitutional order is restored in the country.”
The AU had on Monday, August 22, suspended Niger Republic’s membership after the military sacked President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.
Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Sudan have also been suspended since the coups in those countries.
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