Gabon rebels appoint transitional president

The commander-in-chief of the Gabonese Republican Guard, General Bryce Kloter Oligi Nguema, was appointed president of the transitional period of Gabon. This was announced by the rebels on national television, writes Reuters.

The military coup in Gabon took place on August 30 after the announcement of the results of the presidential elections, in which the incumbent President Ali ben Bongo Ondimba won 64.27% of the vote. The opposition announced the falsification of the elections. After polling stations closed and vote counting began, authorities reportedly imposed a curfew and shut down the Internet.

As the media wrote, the president was placed under house arrest, and several members of the government were also arrested. Mutiny already condemned French government, UN Secretary General António Guterres. US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield condemned actions of the military, but urged to refrain from making decisions at the level of the UN Security Council on the topic of the coup.

Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov declaredthat Moscow is closely monitoring the situation in Gabon, it is “a matter of deep concern.” The Russian Foreign Ministry recommended that Russians refrain from traveling to an African country. The same recommendation was given in the French Foreign Ministry.