DOHA, Aug 30 Organization of Islamic Cooperation Secretary General Hussein Ibrahim Taha strongly condemned the attempted military coup in Gabon, the head of the organization said in a statement.
“The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemns in the strongest terms the attempted military coup in Gabon. We are following with great concern the development of the situation and attempts to seize power by force in this country,” Taha said.
He called for «respect for the democratic institutions and the rule of law necessary to ensure legitimate government in Gabon, exercise restraint and act for the speedy restoration of constitutional order in the country.» The OIC Secretary General also considers it necessary to «recourse to legal texts and electoral procedures» to resolve the situation in Gabon.
On Wednesday morning, the military of Gabon announced the cancellation of the election results and the dissolution of government institutions. The head of the Republican Guard, General Bris Oligui Nguema, told the Monde newspaper that Gabon's President Ali Bongo Ondimba had been dismissed but would retain all civil rights. According to the military, the president is under house arrest. Later, in a video message posted on the social network X (formerly Twitter) by a local journalist, Ali Bongo Ondimba stated that he was in his residence and did not understand what was happening. He added that he did not know where his wife and son were.