Following the military takeover in Gabon on Wednesday, the African Union’s Peace and Security Council has slammed suspension on the Central African Country.
The suspension was announced on Thursday as the junta made it known that it will on Monday inaugurate its leader, Gen. Brice Nguema as the “transitional president of the troubled country.
However, Gabon’s main opposition, the Alternance 2023 coalition, wants the coup leaders to declare it as the winner of Saturday’s disputed presidential election.
Recall that President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who was announced winner of the poll, was overthrown by soldiers on Wednesday, hours after the country’s electoral body declared him re-elected for another term of seven years.
While Ondimba’s ouster and detention drew international condemnations, the Gabonese trooped to the streets hailing the soldiers for ending the Bongo family’s over 55 years in power.
On Thursday, after a meeting of its Peace and Security Council on the situation, the AU said it had decided to “suspend the participation of Gabon in all activities of its organs and institutions”.
The AU said the meeting was chaired by its Commissioner for Political Affairs Bankole Adeoye and the current holder of the council’s rotating chair, Burundi’s Nyamitwe.
The swearing-in of Gen. Nguema will take place at the constitutional court, said the junta’s Spokesman, Col. Ulrich Manfoumbi, yesterday.
