A new blow in Africa, this time in the central region of the continent. The situation in Gabon is improving, but it is certain that a group of soldiers announced the cancellation of elections in the Central African country and the dissolution of “all the institutions of the Republic”. The announcement came just hours after Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba was re-elected to power for 14 years. For the Gabonese politician, this would be his third term in a row. The military also ordered the closure of the borders of Gabon, which borders Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. Farnesina and EU High Commissioner for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell urged caution given that the situation is still developing.
On Saturday, August 26, Ali Bongo Ondimba was re-elected with 64.27% of the vote, beating his main rival, Albert Ondo Ossa, who received only 30.77% of the votes in one vote. The other 12 presidential candidates garnered only a handful of votes, as Michel Stéphane Bonda, head of the Gabon Electoral Center (CGE), explained. However, the voting turnout rate is low, equaling only 56.65% of beneficiaries. Shortly after Bongo Ondimba’s victory was announced, a dozen Gabonese soldiers announced in a press release read on state television station Gabon 24 that the elections were canceled and institutions were dissolved. As the reason, they stated that they observed “an irresponsible and unpredictable government that causes the continuous deterioration of social cohesion and risks dragging the country into chaos”.
Regarding the situation in Gabon, EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Josep Borrell said: “The situation in Gabon is mixed. If the military coup is confirmed, it will increase instability in the entire region. We will discuss it”. Speaking before the informal Council of EU defense ministers in Toledo, Erdogan said, “The whole region is in a really difficult situation. The ministers of defense and foreign affairs will discuss how we will implement our strategy. This is an important file for Europe.” borrell Meanwhile, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is monitoring the situation in Gabon and urging Italians in the country to be “cautious”. In a note, “Farnesina is monitoring the development of the situation in the country”, “The embassy in Libreville is operational. We urge our citizens to be vigilant. For any emergency or report you can contact our Crisis Unit on +39 06.” 36225″ writes his ministry on social platform X (formerly Twitter).
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
