For German MEP Jo Leinen (S&D), who chaired the European Parliament's Election Observation Mission for the 2016 presidential elections in Gabon, the attempted coup d'état that took place on the morning of 7 January in that country “is a sign of despair on the part of the Gabonese at the reign of the Bongo family”. The attempted coup d'état was aborted on the evening of 7 January when the soldier who had called for an uprising on national radio was arrested.
"Since independence in 1960, the Bongo family has exploited the country and become rich at the expense of the Gabonese. The poverty of a large part of the Gabonese population is a direct consequence of the kleptocratic Bongo regime. In addition, the prolonged absence of Ali Bongo has created a power vacuum. Ali Bongo's supporters in Libreville are now trying, with the help of the Constitutional Court, to fill this void in an illegal and unconstitutional manner in order to ensure the family's control over Gabon”, Mr. Leinen said in a statement issued on the afternoon of 7 January.
Call for democratic transition. Referring to “the unprecedented repression in Gabon following the manipulation of the election results in 2016”, the MEP said that "the European Parliament has repeatedly condemned the situation in Gabon and calls on all international and Gabonese actors to promote a democratic transition". (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)