The Diplomat
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation has updated its recommendations for Gabon and now recommends “no travel” to the African country following the coup d’état perpetrated by members of the army after the re-election of Ali Bongo as president.
Thus, the Government points out that given the circumstances in the country, travel to Gabon is discouraged “until the situation is clarified” and recommends that all Spaniards in the country “remain calm and exercise extreme caution”.
In addition, the Ministry recalls that there is an emergency number for the Spanish Embassy in Gabon and has asked those who are in the country to contact it.
A group of members of the Gabonese army announced on Wednesday that they had seized power minutes after the Gabonese authorities confirmed the re-election of the president, Ali Bongo, having received 64.27 percent of the votes in the elections held in the African country on Saturday.
They annulled the general elections and their results, dissolved all institutions and closed the borders “until further notice”.
As a result, the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council on Thursday suspended Gabon from membership of the body “until the restoration of constitutional order in the country” following the coup and “strongly” condemned the military seizure of power.
