Gabon’s military has announced the reopening of the nation’s borders, which had been closed following a military coup that removed former President Ali Bongo. This decision was conveyed by a spokesperson on state television, stating that the borders, including land, sea, and air routes, would be accessible starting this Saturday.
Earlier in the week, a group of 12 Gabonese Soldiers had declared the border closure until further notice via a statement broadcast on Gabon 24 television. The coup, led by General Brice Oligui Nguema and officers from the elite Republican Guard, occurred right after President Ali Bongo Ondimba’s controversial victory in the recent presidential elections, which the opposition labeled as fraudulent.
As a result of the coup, the nation’s institutions were dissolved, election results were invalidated, and the borders were shut. General Oligui is set to be sworn in as the “transitional president” on Monday.
This situation in Gabon mirrors a trend seen in other African countries like Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where coups have taken place in the past three years, and the new leadership has been reluctant to establish a clear timeline for returning to civilian governance.
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