The group said the election results had been annulled, all borders closed until further notice and state institutions dissolved. If the Gabonese coup succeeds this time, it could be the eighth coup in West and Central Africa since 2020, according to Reuters .
Coups in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Chad and most recently Niger have undermined democratic progress in the region in recent years.
Ovigwe Eguegu, a security analyst at the Nigerian security think tank Afripolitika, said the events in Gabon were unlike any coups seen in West Africa. The situation in Gabon was sudden but to some extent not really surprising.
Looking back at the 2016 election, after the results of Mr. Ali Bongo’s re-election were announced, large protests broke out in the capital. According to Mr. Eguegu, by 2019, the coup group alleged irregularities in the election and argued that the results did not represent the will of the people. The coup was quickly crushed.
Mr. Eguegu concluded that while other coups were more about security and governance, the Gabon coup was specifically about the electoral process.
Many people celebrate after the military declared power in Gabon on August 30. Photo: REUTERS
Responding to the coup in Gabon, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said Paris was closely monitoring the situation. Meanwhile, China called on all parties in Gabon to ensure the safety of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, maintain national peace and stability, and act based on the fundamental interests of the country and its people.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said EU defense ministers will discuss the situation in Gabon.
Mr Borrell warned that this was a big problem for the whole of Europe and "certainly EU ministers have to think deeply about adjusting their policies towards these countries".
Gabon, a former French colony, maintains close economic and diplomatic ties with Paris. Gabon is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), producing about 200,000 barrels per day, or 0.2% of global supplies, according to the Financial Times . The country also exports timber, manganese and uranium.
Although Gabon is one of the smallest oil producers in OPEC, any potential further reduction in supply would send shockwaves through the international oil market, partly due to previous production cuts by the alliance between OPEC and non-OPEC producers (known as OPEC+).
Europe’s desire to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels has created opportunities for African gas producers, according to analysis site GIS Reports . Africa currently accounts for about 20% of Europe’s gas imports, a share that could rise.
However, according to Euronews, Russia also takes advantage of its relationships in Africa to gain a foothold. Russia has now become a reliable food supplier to the continent.
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