The United States has established that a military coup has occurred in Gabon, at least according to the U.S. State Department on Monday, October 23. The US State Department had also added that it would be suspending most U.S. assistance to the African country’s government.
Recall that Gabon army officers had taken over the affairs of the country on August 30, cancelling an election some minutes after an announcement that President Ali Bongo had won, on the grounds that the elections had not been credible.
Ali Bongo,l had been in power since 2009 after he succeeded his father Omar Bongo, who ruled the country for 42 years.
The United States government had meanwhile announced late September that it was halting some foreign assistance programs aiding the Gabon government.
But on Monday, the State Department revealed that it was suspending most U.S. assistance to the government but the humanitarian, health, and education aid will continue.
The African Union on its part had since suspended Gabon’s membership following the coup.
