Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Iran: IRNA: Attack Wave 21 was not carried out, and the operation carried out minutes ago was from Yemen against targets in the occupied territories
Sirens are sounding in Tel Aviv and surrounding areas
Israeli military command: We identified missiles launched from Iran
Tunis: The legitimacy created by World War II is crumbling and the future belongs to free peoples of the world
Tunis: We emphasize that the aggression against Iran should not obscure other ongoing crimes, the first of which is the war of extermination against the Palestinian people
Tunis: International legitimacy does not permit or justify aggression against Iran under any cover or title
Tunisia: Foreign Ministry: We call for an end to the aggression against our sister country, Iran, and we do not limit ourselves to condemning the Zionist and American attacks
Iran: Nur News: An Israeli aerial assault is targeting the region of Parchin, east Tehran
Iran: Iranian TV: Iranian air defenses shot down an Israeli Hermes 900 drone over Markazi Province, central Iran
Nour News, citing Iranian Armed Forces: 20th wave of Operation Truthful Promise 3 successfully targeted three of the Israeli enemy's strategic centers.

AU suspends Gabon, junta announces Nguema interim President

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 1 Sep 2023 08:52
3 Min Read

The African Union has suspended Gabon's participation in the bloc's activities, condemning the military takeover of power in the former French colony.

  • x
  • Gabon announces interim President as the African Union demands restoration of Bongo.
    A general view of a torn campaign billboard of ousted Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba in Libreville, Gabon, on August 31, 2023. (AFP)

The Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department (PAPS) of the African Union (AU) has strongly condemned the "military takeover of power" in Gabon, the Commission said in a statement posted on X.

As of August 30, PAPS has decided to "immediately suspend the participation of Gabon in all activities of the AU, its organs and institutions until the restoration of constitutional order in the country," the Department's post on X read.

This follows an AU Peace and Security Council meeting that took place on Thursday, discussing the newest developments in Gabon.

The announcement followed an AU Peace and Security Council meeting on Thursday to discuss the situation in Gabon.

1/2) Council strongly condemns the military takeover of power in the Republic of #Gabon which ousted President Ali Bongo @PresidentABO on 30 August 2023; Decides to immediately suspend the participation of #Gabon in all activities of the #AU, its organs and institutions.. pic.twitter.com/xQVmTyFrWR

— African Union Political Affairs Peace and Security (@AUC_PAPS) August 31, 2023

The meeting of the African Union Commission was headed by Bankole Adeoye, the head of political affairs for the African bloc, as well as Willy Nyamitwe, the current holder of the council's rotating chair.

A military junta in Gabon, led by General Brice Oligui Nguema, had ousted the country's President Ali Bongo on Wednesday, marking the 6th coup in 3 years in former French colonies.

The AU's decision comes shortly after the coup leaders announced that General Nguema would be sworn in on Monday at the presidential palace as the country's transitional president.

Related News

Gabon junta chief wins presidency, provisional results show

Gabon's President Nguema in Congo to improve ties, ease isolation

The army vowed to "respect all commitments" at home and abroad and "phase in transitional institutions," Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi, spokesperson for Gabon's newly formed Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), stated on state TV on Thursday, a day after Bongo was overthrown.

Manfoumbi assured "all donors, development partners, and the state's creditors that all measures will be taken to guarantee that" Gabon's commitments will be respected.

Allegations of fraud end the Bongo dynasty

The coup took place on Wednesday, just after the electoral commission in Gabon announced that Bongo had won a third term in office. The announcement was met with widespread protests, and the military stepped in to restore order.

Bongo secured 64% of the votes according to official results; however, the election's integrity has been put into doubt by the junta, the opposition, and an advisor to the ousted President himself.

Mark Pursey, a British political consultant who advised Bongo's re-election campaign polling over the past 18 months, showed that France was deeply unpopular among the majority of Gabonese.

The military coup series continues in #Africa as the Gabonese junta depose President Ali Bongo. pic.twitter.com/EIMIay4NAV

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) August 30, 2023

"When you ask the general population, they have a very bad opinion of France," he said. "Not good at all toward French politicians, French geopolitics as well," he said.

Pursey said his firm's polling had pointed to an election victory for Bongo in recent months, but that he was surprised by the large margin he managed to get. Albert Ondo Ossa, Bongo's main challenger, came in second place with 31% of the vote, according to the official results.

In addition to anti-French sentiment, Pursey said the polling picked up on concerns about the health of the President, who suffered a stroke a few years ago, and tiredness over his family's long rule. Bongo became President after the 2009 death of his father, Omar Bongo.

Read more: EU held crisis talks in Gabon, no evacuation plan: The Financial Times

  • Gabon coup
  • Brice Oligui Nguema
  • Ali Bongo
  • African Union
  • Gabon

Most Read

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, speaks with then-Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis in a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, January 17, 2017 (AP)
Politics

Iran holds the initiative after nuclear strikes, Shamkhani says

Blood stains a religious painting inside Mar Elias Church, where a suicide bomber detonated himself in al-Dwela, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, on Sunday, June 22, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN, regional governments condemn Damascus church bombing

A B-2 bomber arrives at Whiteman Air Force Base Missouri, Sunday, June 22, 2025, after returning from a massive strike on Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday (AP)
Politics

Israeli media: US-Israeli strike on Iran failed to end war

China UN Ambassador Fu Cong addresses the United Nations Security Council, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Politics

China slam US strikes on Iran nuclear sites

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS