A CEMAC press release, published on August 30, 2023, condemns an attempt by the military to seize power in Gabon.
Gabonese woke up on the morning of August 30, 2023 to the smell of a coup. Even if so far some chancelleries and international institutions still speak of “attempt”. However, it should be noted that for more than 24 hours, it is a group of soldiers gathered in a “Committee for the transition and the restoration of institutions”, which has control of the country. They took the reins of the country, a few minutes after the announcement of Ali Bongo’s re-election, with 64,27%, on Gabonese national television. The Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), as well as some chancelleries and international institutions said to follow: “with deep concern the developments of the situation”. The current president of CEMAC in a press release: “strongly condemns the attempted coup d’etat underway in this brotherly country”, and urges for: “a return to constitutional order, respect for physical integrity and to the immediate and unconditional release”, of the ousted president, Ali Bongo. CEMAC insists that any unconstitutional change of government constitutes an intolerable violation of the founding principles of the Community. The soldiers who took power dissolved the institutions, canceled the elections last Saturday, placed Ali Bongo under house arrest and arrested several of his relatives.
