By AFP 30 August 2023 | 3:49 pm The head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said on Wednesday he “strongly condemns” what he described as an attempted coup in Gabon. Rebel officers in the oil-rich central African state announced earlier Wednesday they had seized power following disputed elections, in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba had been declared victor. Bongo, 64,… Residents gesture and hold a Gabon national flag as they celebrate in Libreville on August 30, 2023 after a group of Gabonese military officers appeared on television announcing they were “putting an end to the current regime” and scrapping official election results that had handed another term to veteran President Ali Bongo Ondimba. – In a pre-dawn address, a group of officers declared “all the institutions of the republic” had been dissolved, the election results cancelled and the borders closed. (Photo by – / AFP) The head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said on Wednesday he “strongly condemns” what he described as an attempted coup in Gabon. Rebel officers in the oil-rich central African state announced earlier Wednesday they had seized power following disputed elections, in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba had been declared victor. Bongo, 64, whose family has ruled Gabon for over 55 years, was placed under house arrest and one of his sons arrested for treason, the coup leaders said. “(Faki) is following with great concern the situation in the Gabonese Republic and strongly condemns the attempted coup d’etat in the country as a way of resolving its current post-electoral crisis,” he said in a statement published on the AU website in French. He “calls on the national army and security forces to adhere strictly to their republican vocation, to guarantee the physical integrity of the president of the republic, members of his family as well as those of his government”. The AU commission chief also described Wednesday’s events as a “flagrant violation” of the legal and political instruments of the Addis Ababa-headquartered African Union. “(Faki) encourages all political, civil and military actors in Gabon to favour peaceful political paths leading to the rapid return to democratic constitutional order in the country.” Latest 13 mins ago The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said that Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra states are likely to be flooded, following the release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon. Mr Mustapha Ahmed, Director-General, NEMA, who disclosed this at the National Emergency Coordination Forum meeting, on Wednesday in Abuja said others include Enugu, Edo,… 14 mins ago The head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said on Wednesday he “strongly condemns” what he described as an attempted coup in Gabon. Rebel officers in the oil-rich central African state announced earlier Wednesday they had seized power following disputed elections, in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba had been declared victor. Bongo, 64,… 15 mins ago Judges could be given the power to order criminals to attend their sentencing, according to planned legislation announced Wednesday by the UK’s justice ministry. It comes after offenders in several high-profile trials were not in court to hear their sentence and statements from the victims’ families, prompting repeated calls for a change in the law.… 18 mins ago Gabon President Ali Bongo has “been placed in retirement,” the head of his presidential guard told Le Monde newspaper on Wednesday after rebel officers said they had toppled him. “He has been placed in retirement. He has all his rights. He’s an ordinary Gabonese person, like everyone,” Brice Oligui Nguema said, while denying that he… 24 mins ago The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has shut down the office of Stockmatch Investments Limited in Maiduguri, Borno State over alleged illegal investment activities. According to the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), the sealing of Stockmatch office took place on Tuesday, 29 August, 2023. SEC stated that the office of the company in Wulari Plaza on…
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