President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reacted to coup in Gabon, warning of its spread across African continent.
The president called for a joint effort in halting coups, and a consensus against the “contagious autocracy” across the continent.”
He said, he was committed to defending democracy by working with other African leaders. Nigerian leader was reacting for the first time since the coup happened in Gabon, a central African nation on Wednesday last week.
Meanwhile, the coup has been condemned by the United States, United Nations, European Union, France and the Commonwealth.
The nations expressed concerns that the coup is taking place four weeks after, it happened in Niger, Nigeria’s neighbouring country. In Niger, the democratic elected President, Mohamed Bazoum and his family has been arrested by the military junta and is still under house arrest.
The Gabonese soldiers announced that they have overthrown the incumbent President Ondimba Ali Bongo and cancelled election results he claimed to have won and also dissolved all government institutions.
The mutineers led by the head of the republican guards, Gen Brice Nguema , also closed the borders until further notice.
The announcement came after President Ali Bongo, 64, was re-elected for a third term, extending his family’s half-century rule over the oil-rich Central African country of 2.3 million, but the opposition described the poll as a ‘fraud orchestrated’ by the ruling party.
Part of Tinubu’s reaction to the development in Niger and Gabon, his media aide, Ngelale said the President had “substantive extended discussions” with the Canadian Prime Minister, Justine Trudeau, on issues related to the crisis in the Niger Republic and the unfolding situation in Gabon.
Giving details of the telephone conversation between the two leaders, the President aide noted, “The two heads of state mutually agreed that the promotion and protection of constitutional democratic governance on the continent remains a paranoid priority and that the people of Africa living in the diaspora around the world making a huge impact on the social and political landscapes of countries around the world and the economies of countries around the world continue to urge on the global community to advance the course of democracy on the continent for the sake of the economic prosperity of all Africans.
“So, it is of utmost importance to understand that President Bola Tinubu would continue to engage with Heads of State not just only in the African Union but also around [the] world and those communications and engagements are ongoing.”
Ngelari explained that the two leaders’ discussion centred on the need for the promotion and protection of constitutional democratic governance on the continent.
While the conversation lasted, both leaders were said to have emphatically insisted that democratic governance remain a paramount priority.
Meanwhile, the US and EU have expressed worries over the unfolding situation in Gabon.
Describing the development in Gabon as concerning, the US Government said it would continue to monitor the situation closely.
“It’s deeply concerning. We are going to watch this closely, and we’re going to continue to do everything we can to support the idea of democratic ideals that are expressed by the African people,” said White House national security spokesman, John Kirby.
The EU warned against instability in Africa, insisting that coups are a big issue on the continent.
The EU Foreign Policy Chief, Josep Borrell, disclosed that the EU defence ministers will discuss the situation in Gabon.
Borrell added that if a coup is confirmed in Gabon, it would incite more instability in the region.
Speaking at a meeting of EU defence ministers in Toledo, Borrell said, “If this is confirmed, it is another military coup which increases instability in the whole region.
“The whole area, starting with Central African Republic, then Mali, then Burkina Faso, now Niger, maybe Gabon, it’s in a very difficult situation and certainly the ministers have to have a deep thought on what is going on there and how we can improve our policy in respect to these countries. This is a big issue for Europe,” Reuters quoted him as saying.
The coupists also detained Bongo’s son, Noureddin Bongo Valentine and allies for treason, embezzlement, corruption and falsifying the president’s signature, among other allegations.
Also detained were the former president’s Chief of Staff, Ian Ghislain Ngoulou, as well as his deputy, two other presidential advisers and the two top officials in the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party.
However, reports said there have been scenes of celebration in Libreville since the military takeover.
According to Al Jazeera, hundreds of Gabon’s citizens flooded the capital to celebrate the end of Ali Bongo and the 53-year rule of his family in the country.
“I am marching today because I am joyful. After almost 60 years, the Bongos are out of power,” said Jules Lebigui, an unemployed 27-year-old who joined the celebrations on Libreville’s streets.
Speaking to the French newspaper Le Monde, coup leader, Nguema, assured that the president will “enjoy all his rights.”
