The UN Secretary-General on Wednesday firmly condemned the on-going coup attempt in Gabon, while acknowledging that 鈥渟erious infringements of fundamental freedoms鈥� appear to have taken place during elections at the weekend.
Spokesperson St茅phane Dujarric said that UN chief Ant贸nio Guterres was following the evolving situation in the capital Libreville 鈥渧ery closely鈥�.
While condemning military action as 鈥渁 means to resolve the post electoral crisis鈥�, the Secretary-General said he had noted the announcement by the Central African nation鈥檚 electoral body of a win for incumbent president Ali Bongo with 鈥渄eep concern鈥� given reports of serious irregularities at the polls.
鈥楽trong opposition鈥� to coups
This announcement of a military takeover in the capital by a group of officers who declared the election results void and the dissolution of State institutions, would mark the eighth coup 鈥� if successful 鈥� in West and Central Africa since 2020.
鈥淭he Secretary-General reaffirms his strong opposition to military coups鈥�, said the UN Spokesperson.
According to news reports, the coup leaders have placed President Bongo under house arrest, ending in effect more than half a century of dynastic rule.
The current president鈥檚 father, Omar, came to power in 1967, and after violent unrest erupted following his disputed election victory in 2016, there was a foiled coup attempt in 2019.
News reports said the coup leaders calling themselves The Committee of Transition and the Restoration of Institutions, had declared the country to be in a state of institutional, political, economic and social crisis.
So far, there has been no response from the existing Government and the president鈥檚 whereabouts are unknown.
The country is currently an elected member of the UN Security Council.
Dialogue and restraint call
鈥淭he Secretary-General calls on all actors involved to exercise restraint, engage in听an inclusive and meaningful听dialogue and ensure that the rule of law and human rights are fully respected鈥�, said the statement issued by his Spokeperson.听
鈥淗e also听calls on the national army and security forces to guarantee the physical integrity of the听President of the Republic听and听his family.鈥�
Standing with the people
Mr. Dujarric also stressed that the UN 鈥渟tands by the people of Gabon.鈥�
Questioned by correspondents at the daily Noon Briefing in New York on the pattern of military coups across the region, he said the best way of dealing with them 鈥渋s in fact to invest more in preventing them prior, in investing in strong institutions, in ensuring that elections are safe, that people are able to express themselves, that human rights are respected.鈥�
The UN has 81 international staff and 163 national staff working in the country and Mr. Dujarric said that latest information suggested that all staff and their families were safe and sound.
鈥淥ur broader concern is really for the people of Gabon, and people of countries that have undergone military coups recently which is a clear violation of their rights.鈥�
