The African Union’s Peace and Security Council says it has decided to “immediately suspend” Gabon following the military coup this week.
The body said it strongly condemns the military takeover of power in the Republic of Gabon, which ousted President Ali Bongo.
It decided to immediately suspend Gabon’s participation in all activities of the AU, its organs, and institutions until the restoration of constitutional order in the country.
The announcement came after a meeting of the Council on the situation in Gabon following Wednesday’s coup that followed disputed elections in which Bongo was declared the winner.
It said the meeting was chaired by AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Bankole Adeoye of Nigeria, and the current holder of the Council’s Rotating Chairman, Burundi’s Willy Nyamitwe.
On Wednesday, the Head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, had called on the Gabonese army and security forces “to guarantee the physical integrity” of Bongo, who the coup leaders said had been placed under house arrest.
Faki also condemned the coup and said the events in Gabon are a “flagrant violation” of the legal and political instruments of the Addis Ababa-headquartered African Union.
Source: AFRICANEWS
