Membership of Gabon suspended by African Union following military coup

In a significant turn of events, military officers in Gabon have announced their takeover after the state election body declared President Ali Bongo the winner of a third term. This coup marks the eighth one in West and Central Africa since 2020 and has led to the African Union suspending Gabon’s membership. The military leaders are seeking to consolidate their power despite international condemnation, following the pattern of previous juntas in the region. General Brice Oligui Nguema, the coup leader, is scheduled to be sworn in as president on Monday. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has expressed concern about a “contagion of autocracy” spreading in the region. The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has taken action by excluding Gabon from all its activities until constitutional order is restored. Additionally, Central Africa’s political bloc has condemned the coup and plans to hold a meeting of heads of state to determine the next steps. While the main opposition platform in Gabon has applauded the junta for ending the Bongo family’s long reign, they insist on verifying an incomplete vote count to demonstrate that Albert Ondo Ossa, the main opposition candidate, actually won. The events in Gabon, along with recent coups in other African countries, have raised concerns about the erosion of democratic progress and limited influence international powers have when militaries seize power. The situation in Gabon has been met with concern from France, the United States, Canada, and Britain. The European Union has rejected the seizure of power by force and criticized the irregularities in the election process. The lack of international observers, suspension of foreign broadcasts, internet shutdown, and night curfew have cast doubts on the transparency of the vote.

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