The Nigerian government has called for the immediate return to democratic constitutional order in Gabon following the coup d’etat that ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba on 30 August 2023.
The coup was led by the Commandant In-Chief of the Gabonese Republican Guard, Gen. Brice Olingui Nguema, who was appointed Chairman of the Ruling Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI). However, the CTRI has not yet announced a transition plan, which has raised concerns about the future of democracy in Gabon.
Nigeria is not the only country that has called for the restoration of democracy in Gabon. The African Union, the United Nations, and the United States have all condemned the coup and urged the military to hand power back to civilians.
The coup in Gabon is the latest in a series of unconstitutional changes of government in Africa. In recent years, there have been coups in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Sudan. These coups have undermined democracy and stability in Africa and have had a negative impact on the continent’s development.
A statement signed by Francisca Omayuli, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the Nigerian government is committed to working with other democratically elected governments in Africa to sanction perpetrators of unconstitutional change of government.
The government has also said that it is committed to supporting the restoration of democracy in Gabon.
