Reactions to Gabon army officers announcing coup

People celebrate in support of the putschists in the street of Libreville, Gabon August 30, 2023 REUTERS/Gerauds Wilfried Obangome Acquire Licensing Rights

Aug 30 (Reuters) – A group of senior military officers in Gabon said they had seized power in the early hours of Wednesday, minutes after the Central African state’s election body announced that President Ali Bongo had won a third term.

Below are reactions to what appeared to be the eighth military coup in West and Central Africa since 2020.

FRENCH GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON OLIVIER VERAN

“We condemn the military coup and recall our commitment to free and transparent elections.”

CHINA FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON WANG WENBIN

“China closely follows the development of the situation in Gabon and calls on relevant parties in Gabon to focus on the fundamental interests of the country and the people, resolve differences peacefully through dialogue, and restore normal order as soon as possible. And also ensure the personal safety of President Bongo, maintain national peace, stability, and overall development.”

EU HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY JOSEP BORRELL

“If this is confirmed, it is another military coup which increases instability in the whole region.

“The whole area – starting with Central African Republic, then Mali, then Burkina Faso, now Niger, maybe Gabon – it’s in a very difficult situation and certainly the ministers … have to have a deep thought on what is going on there and how we can improve our policy with respect to these countries.”

RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON MARIA ZAKHAROVA

“Moscow has received with concern reports of a sharp deterioration in the internal situation in the friendly African country. We continue to closely monitor the development of the situation and hope for its speedy stabilisation.”

Compiled by Nellie Peyton and Sofia Christensen; Editing by Alexander Winning and Mike Harrison

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