“The EU rejects any seizure of power by force in Gabon and calls on all those involved to show restraint”, declared the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borell, on Thursday 31 August, the day after the military coup that saw General Brice Oligui Nguema, the author of the putsch, appointed transitional president and which overthrew Ali Bongo, who had been in power since 2009, as soon as the results of the elections were known, with him winning 64.27% of the vote.
“The challenges facing Gabon must be resolved in accordance with the principles of the rule of law, constitutional order and democracy. The peace and prosperity of the country, as well as regional stability, depend on it”, emphasises the declaration he issued on behalf of the EU27.
“The EU shares the serious concerns about the way in which the electoral process, which preceded the military coup, was organised and conducted. But an inclusive and substantive dialogue ensuring that the rule of law and human rights are respected, and not force, is the way to ensure that the will, as expressed by the Gabonese people, is respected”, the High Representative points out.
This measured statement was published during the informal meeting of the foreign affairs ministers of the EU27, during which concern was expressed, although there were no plans at this stage to evacuate European nationals from Gabon.
The military coup, which put an end to more than half a century of undivided rule by the Bongo family at the head of the country, gave rise to scenes of jubilation in Libreville and Port-Gentil. It was condemned on 30 August by the United States, France and the African Union.
No evacuation of Europeans is planned at this stage. In Toledo, Mr Borrell admitted to the press that the coup had followed “an institutional putsch” constituted by “stolen” elections. However, he felt that “this did not justify a coup d’état” and that the situation was not comparable to that in Niger.
In the wake of the putsch in Gabon, “the situation is calm. We see no risk of violence, no situation that could lead to danger. There are around 10,000 European citizens in Gabon, but no country has expressed concern about their situation. For the moment, there are no plans to evacuate Gabon, as was the case in Niger”.
The Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares Bueno, whose country holds the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU, said the same thing to the press: “There is a worrying political situation, in terms of instability and coup d’état, but there is no worrying situation for our fellow citizens”. And he added, “No country with a diplomatic presence has indicated (that an evacuation) is necessary”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang with Camille-Cerise Gessant)