European leaders are concerned about the coup in Gabon

The coup in Gabon has caught the leaders of European Union countries off guard and has caused significant concern.

On August 30, a coup took place in Gabon. Military personnel announced the dissolution of government institutions and the annulment of the presidential election results, in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba was re-elected for a third term. The president himself has been placed under house arrest.

The Qatari channel Al Jazeera reported that the military announced the annulment of the presidential election results and removed the sitting president from power.

President Bongo, who has been placed under house arrest, is accused of “treason.” After the coup, hundreds of supporters of the military took to the streets in the capital of the republic — the city of Libreville — and began to dance and celebrate.

President Ali Bongo Ondimba is considered a close friend of France, and Gabon is one of the main political partners of this European power in Africa. The coup in this former French colony has caught the leaders of European Union countries, especially France, off guard.

The rebels announced that Gabon’s borders would be closed and the activities of all government institutions would be prohibited until further notice.

A representative of the European Union’s foreign policy office stated on the morning of August 30 that the coup in Gabon is yet another military coup that exacerbates instability in all African countries.

The Republic of Gabon was previously a colony of France. After gaining independence, France has also maintained close economic, diplomatic, and military ties with Gabon. The country is considered one of France’s main political partners in Africa. For this reason, the news of the coup in Gabon has greatly upset the French authorities.

“France condemns the military coup in Gabon and is closely monitoring the developments in the country,” said an official representative of the French government.