Gabon reopens borders three days after military coup

Gabon reopened its borders three days after the country’s military announced it had seized power. An army spokesman said transmits Reuters.

As AFP at X (formerly Twitter) clarifies, the decision is effective immediately.

The army of Gabon on August 30 announced the deposition of the country’s president, 64-year-old Ali Bongo, who ruled for 14 years. His father, Omar Bongo, was in power from 1967 until his death in 2009. The coup was announced shortly after Bongo’s victory in the August 26 presidential election with 64.26% of the vote.

The military announced the annulment of the voting results, the closure of borders and the dissolution of all existing institutions of power, including the government, parliament and the constitutional court. A number of key functionaries were arrested, and Bongo was placed under house arrest. A junta of police, Republican Guard, regular army and air force officers named itself the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of State Institutions. General Bris Oligui Nguema was appointed President for the transitional period.

France, which has 400 military instructors in the country, as well as the African Union condemned the military coup attempt and called for the President to be guaranteed immunity. The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern about the situation in the country and urged Russians to refrain from traveling to Gabon. The African Union on August 31 suspended Gabon’s participation in the organization’s activities.

Gabon is one of the most prosperous countries in Tropical Africa with a relatively high per capita GDP due to a small population (2.4 million people) and large oil reserves for such a state (proven reserves are about 2 billion barrels). The Gabonese oil company Assala Energy on August 30 assured that the events of the coup did not affect production in any way.