Coup: African Union suspends Gabon

On Thursday, August 31, the African Union took the decision to suspend Gabon from participating in all its activities, organs, and institutions until constitutional order is restored in the country.

This announcement followed a meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council held on the same day. Leading the meeting at the African Union Commission were Bankole Adeoye, the head of political affairs for the African bloc, and Willy Nyamitwe, the current chair of the council.

This suspension occurred in the aftermath of a coup in Gabon that ousted President Ali Bongo and installed a general as the new head of state. The coup took place shortly after an election body declared Bongo the winner of a third term, marred by irregularities. The junta declared the election null and void, putting an end to the Bongo family’s nearly six-decade rule.